Interesting Pic

[Mackem]

I've lost count of the number of times I've been 'informed' that the Germans did not use
sandbags as additional protection on their tanks. I'd say this pic puts that myth to rest.

John

[[ICE]monkey]

looks like a clear cut case
regards,ice

[FireflyKeith]

No doubt about it, nice find

[oz]

i wouldn't be too sure though, you,ll probably get someone telling you "THERE NOT SANDBAGS"  they are sacks of grain which allows the crew to make fresh home baked bread as a treat after combat. or something like that!!!   ;D   but to back up what you say............

[tiger205]

they sure look like sand bags to me, though you might be right oz, someone may think they are right, those bags do look like tesco's shopping bags though

                    Tony

[971wright]

Hi Guys if it was on only one tank but look at the tank behind ther tied on in the same place .


      regards pete

[oz]

something else of interest, the stug series also used concrete as add on protection........

[Mackem]

Hi Oz,

I've seen pics of Stugs with additional concrete armour, but mainly Stug IV's.
Found something else of interest. I've got several pics of PzIII's ( Austf J,L, & M ) from
the African campaign and all of them have a large stowage box on the track fender
to the right of the hull machine gun. I'm guessing it's a field mod but I haven't seen
it done on any model PzIII's.

John

[Rivetcounter]

pictures are of Panzer III in Tunisia they certainly do look like sand bags but there is only one way to find out you could either open one or ask the crew, Panzer III had limited stowage area so they could be grain or food stuff but they could also be sand latter variants of the Panzer III had applique armour so there was no need for things like sand bags, if you have a look at other theaters there are no sand/grain bags on any of the Panzer III, there is nothing new about Stug III/IV and Jagdpanzer IV with concrete applique armour some Stug IV also had armour bolted on an angle this was a field mod only relevant to certain units

[Mackem]

I don't think I would carry grain or any other perishable supplies tied to my frontal armour.
Anyway, here's a PzIII Austf N (1943) turret number '07' which was part of the light platoon of
501's Pz Abt which also has what appears to be sandbags, followed by a Pz IV knocked out near
Medenine ( 1943 ) which also has what appear to be sandbags.

John