Maus tank - What is this ?

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MichaelC
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Maus tank - What is this ?

Post by MichaelC »

Hi all,

Does anyone know what this piece is between the 128mm and the 75mm on the Maus ? I think Panzer IV short barrel has something like that too but I thought it was the antenna...... Is it fixed to the 75mm or the 128mm ? (Pardon the picture it is the only image I can find online that shows it clearly but it is definitely in the original as there is clear picture of it in Panzer Tracts No. 6-3).
566px-Porsche-porsche-tank-panzer-maus-demotivational-poster-1216376071.jpg
566px-Porsche-porsche-tank-panzer-maus-demotivational-poster-1216376071.jpg (50.58 KiB) Viewed 2436 times
MichaelC.
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wibblywobbly
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Re: Maus tank - What is this ?

Post by wibblywobbly »

I know that the triangular shaped one on the Panzer IV was a guard to prevent undergrowth getting caught up. However, the Maus would not have been likely to have been designed to go through soft ground and undergrowth? It may be the same reason, but who knows?

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MichaelC
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Re: Maus tank - What is this ?

Post by MichaelC »

I can see that on the Pz IV although you would think that it is not unique, and especially with the short barrel. Anyway, the main reason I am interested in it is to see which barrel it is actually attached to. It can't be attached to both since if one fires the recoil would have rip it for the other one. My guess is that it is probably attached to the 128mm as I am not too sure if the 75 mm actually recoils (I think it is a recoilless 75mm).
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Woz
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Re: Maus tank - What is this ?

Post by Woz »

Its to stop the aerials from shorting on the barrels. As the turret turn that bit move the aerials aside.
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PainlessWolf
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Re: Maus tank - What is this ?

Post by PainlessWolf »

Woz,
You are a walking Tank Encyclopedia. I had always wondered why the short barreled 75mm on the Pz IV had that piece.
regards,
Painless
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MichaelC
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Re: Maus tank - What is this ?

Post by MichaelC »

Woz wrote:Its to stop the aerials from shorting on the barrels. As the turret turn that bit move the aerials aside.
Brilliant. Thank you Woz ! How does that actually work ? Is it attached to both barrel ? Why would the barrel short the radio/aerial ? If that's the case then it should line up with the aerials when the turret moves over it right ?

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MichaelC
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Re: Maus tank - What is this ?

Post by MichaelC »

Thanks Eastern Front. That make sense. Also, upon further examination of the blue print, I realized that the bracket is not mounted on either of the barrel. It is actually support by a rod coming off the mantlet so there is no issue with the recoil of the guns as the bracket is not attached to either.
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