Recovery in The Field - 1944

Sandy Tocock

Page 7

Fig33 .. The Lee tank come, up over the steep bank as it is towed by the recovery tractor.

This next series of recovery examples by means of breakdown tractors.

Job 9

The first, Fig33, shows a General Lee tank being recovered over a steep bank by a 3 to 1 simple reduction layout.

Job 10

Fig34 .. Another Lee tank, with damaged idler and sprocket, in a crater from which it is recovered by a breakdown tractor utilising a 4 to 1 reduction layout.

The next illustration, Fig34, also depicts a Lee tank in a crater but here the track has been shortened owing to a damaged idler and sprocket, similar to the Covenanter tank shown on positive tow in Fig27.

Owing to this disability and the difficult nature of the ground, a 4 to 1 reduction layout is required, whilst in addition, the breakdown tractor is fitted with overall tracks and skid pans.

Job 11

Fig35 .. recovering a disabled Churchill tank from a crater. The drawing shows the 5 to 1 reduction layout used.

Fig36 .. Shows the Churchill tank coming over the edge of the crater; another tank stands in the background.

In recovering the damaged Churchill tank of nearly 40ton weight, which is in a crater as illustrated in Fig35, the velocity calculations indicate that an estimated pull of 30 tons is required (neglecting frictional loss).

For this, the 5 to 1 reduction layout featured in the drawing was laid down, using five holdfasts (in groups of three and two respectively), each of the five rope sections taking a load of 6ton.

The rope passes through two 15 ton snatch blocks attached to the earth anchors, the double snatch block being connected to the tank by means of a special Churchill tow rope.

Job 12

Fig37 .. A Stuart tank about to be drawn up a 60° incline from a 40ft sunken road; note the rope skid at the top.

Fig38 .. The Stuart tank approaches the end of its steep climb.

The last two illustrations, Figs. 37 and 38, show the rather spectacular recovery of a disabled Stuart tank up and over a steep bank of 60` incline from a 40 ft. sunken road.

A special recovery vehicle, having an effective pull of 20 tons and using a 100 ft. steel cable attached to an `A' vehicle tow rope, is used to exert a direct pull

Note: the tree trunk at the top of the bank to take the skid of the rope (Fig37)

The tank comes up this difficult incline with apparent ease. In Fig38 we see it approaching the end of its climb.

Page 7