The Tank Museum Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 The Sherman Flail was used to clear the menaces of the battlefield; mines. Early flail tanks were used at El Alamein and on the advance into Tunisia but they had their limitations; they can only be used effectively against organised minefields, it has to be done at about 2mph and exploded mines made it impossible to return fire... Tank of the Week: Sherman Flail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montie Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 How was the flail drum driven, as a matter of interest? I can't make out how from the pics. The chains must have taken a beating probably require a lot of replacement? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Tank Museum Posted May 17, 2012 Author Share Posted May 17, 2012 These were driven by the use of three sprockets and a series of chains which were driven off the propeller shaft between the engine and transmission. The external chain drive has a light metal casing to protect the crew. We have an example of a flail chain which has been deformed by explosion. Flail chains could be replaced as any chains which were damaged, broken or missing would effect the crabs ability to flail properly endangering the crew and potentially any following tanks. The flail chains were set out on the drum in a particular set pattern so that the flail beat the ground evenly with no gaps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RattlesnakeBob Posted May 17, 2012 Share Posted May 17, 2012 An awesome bit of British ingenuity.....maybe a little 'Heath Robinson' in appearance....and I can just imagine Major Hobart trying to sell the idea.. "so what I propose is ...we'll have a ruddy great big set of chains whirring around at 100mph on the front right.....and they'll batter the hellfire out of the mines ...ok?" ....... .but........... by crikey ...........didn't they ever work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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