Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!att!cbnews!military From: t32726k@kaira.hut.fi (Timo Kiravuo) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Tanks and Finns (was: Re: Unconventional Warfare) Message-ID: <7475@cbnews.ATT.COM> Date: 15 Jun 89 03:53:20 GMT References: <7201@cbnews.ATT.COM> Sender: military@cbnews.ATT.COM Organization: Helsinki University of Technology, Computing Center Lines: 71 Approved: military@att.att.com From: t32726k@kaira.hut.fi (Timo Kiravuo) In article <7201@cbnews.ATT.COM> military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) writes: > The best way to take out a tank is with fire. You can asphyxiate the > engine, the crew, or both, or just force the crew to bail out. Molotov > cocktails probably top the list, In the Winter War (winter 1939-1949) against the Soviet Union Finland faced a situation where we had nothing to fight tanks with. So one had to use what was available. Molotov coctail was the most famous solution. For some reason there never seems to be any shortage of empty liquor bottles in Finland :-) so those were filled with a mixture gasoline, turpentine and some other chemicals, to be slightly sticky. Then a long-burning match (called bengal stick or something like that) was attached. When used the stick was lighted and the bottle thrown behind the turret. The burning liquids would then light the grease and dirt in the engine compartment and light the tank. This should be basically correct. [mod.note: While skimming (i.e., reading without paying for 8-) ) a "Defense International" magazine last night, I noticed a picture of an Israeli Defense Force Merkaval. The rear turret overhang (quite prominent on this tank) had been fitted with a "fringe" of metal balls dangling on chains, which reached almost to the deck; while I've never seen this before, and no explanation was offered in the article, I think this must be to prevent thrown grenades, etc, from entering the area beneath the turret overhang. Clever... - Bill ] I recall having read that this worked fine on older tanks, but towards the end of WWII tanks got better and did not burn that easily. Another weapon was a plain charge consisting of a couple on kilos of TNT attached to wooden handle and delay fuse. This was used to cut the tracks or was placed next to the turret. A fuse long enough allowed you to throw it from a blind spot and then let the tank pass, until a while later - bang. There are also stories about men derailing tanks with logs. A meter long birch log apparently is very effective when you thrust it between the wheels. More unbelievable are stories about men jumping on a tank from behind and actually knocking on the hatch. The tank commander would then open the hatch and look out, thus enabling our guy to toss a grenade or two inside. I know that my fellow coutrymen are liable to do the weirdest things, but this is a bit thick. Might have happened, still. They gave you a leave for busting a tank. According to those stories I have heard about fighting tanks with DIY weapons, the hardest part was waiting. You have to hide and let that noisy monster almost on top of you before you move... And then get away from your own bang in time, depending on what you are using. However it is known that the poorly equipped Finnish army managed to keep the entire Red Army out of Finland during the World War two. The Soviets had planned to take Finland over in a week or two, a month at tops. In the Winter War the attacking Soviet troops had parade clothes and marching bands with them for the victory parade. Didn't quite work the way they planned... -- Timo Kiravuo work:90-451 4328 home:90-6776 076 Helsinki University of Technology, Computing Center kiravuo@hut.fi kiravuo@fingate.bitnet