Rick W 10 Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 There are plenty of pics around showing beutewagens, captured allied forces vehicles, from WW2. But I have never seen any, apart from one, captured axis vehicle under allied forces. The pic Im thinking of is a Schwimmwagen being driven by GI's. Is there a reason for this? Was it not a done thing to drive around in captured vehicles? I know that the axis commissioned workshops to convert captured vehicles. Has anyone got any pics they care to post up? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Enigma 20 Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 There are plenty of pics around showing beutewagens, captured allied forces vehicles, from WW2. But I have never seen any, apart from one, captured axis vehicle under allied forces. The pic Im thinking of is a Schwimmwagen being driven by GI's. Is there a reason for this? Was it not a done thing to drive around in captured vehicles? I know that the axis commissioned workshops to convert captured vehicles. Has anyone got any pics they care to post up? I think the Germans used a lot of captured vehicles because they didn't have enough. The Allies probably avoided them to reduce the risk of being shot by their own forces. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rick W 10 Posted September 11, 2012 Author Share Posted September 11, 2012 That did cross my mind! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Degsy 12 Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 A Panther was used by British forces, I think it was Guards Armoured Div, pics have appeared on here I think. There are a no of pics around of US troops using Kettenkrads. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lauren Child 12 Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 It may be to do with the supply chains - if there are enough operational vehicles then you don't need to use others, except as a temporary convenience here and there. I seem to remember reading that allied supply chains were better than the axis equivelents. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
woa2 10 Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 I think the Germans used a lot of captured vehicles because they didn't have enough.The Allies probably avoided them to reduce the risk of being shot by their own forces. Thinking of how trigger-happy some of the Allied forces were, I can understand this. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mash 10 Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 A lot of vehicles were left from the BEF intact, however once the allies advanced across Europe, I would expect most of the Axis vehicles would of been badly damaged during the ensuing battles. This would be due to the Air dominance the Allies had and were able to disable many of the vehicles before troops on the ground got close to them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steve 82 10 Posted September 12, 2012 Share Posted September 12, 2012 Actually there are quite a few pics around of German light vehicles under `new ownership` - just need to know where to look ! The Americans clearly anticipated such a scenario and produced a manual for maintaining the VW82. From my understanding, Kubels and schwimms tended to be used in secondary roles - chaplains, press, airfield run-arounds etc. Most of the pics seem to validate this (with a couple of exceptions) Try www.vw166.com for starters. Cheers Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
woa2 10 Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 I seem to remember reading that Rommel liked to have British trucks in the front line in the desert, as they didn't get bogged down in soft sand as much as the German trucks, as Britsh trucks had wider tyres. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pzkpfw-e 10 Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Plenty of axis vehicles being shown in photos "under new management". Not as many as the Germans used, but they were critically short of motor transport and had access to more "left behind" items! Ernest Hemingway had a Kubelwagen, as he bounced around Europe. As did these chaps from the 101st Airbourne! These GIs look quite happy with their run-about! (Co B, 129th Ord. bat) H39, recaptured by the French Resistance. Marder III in use by their Belgian equivalents. Well-known Russian unit of Panthers. Ozzy M11/39 Your Schwimmwagen? As has been noted, driving around in a captured vehicle does have many risks, US vehicle recognition isn't good at the best of times! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rick W 10 Posted September 13, 2012 Author Share Posted September 13, 2012 Thats more like it! Thanks for posting up, and yes it was that picture I have seen before. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Enigma 20 Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 From my personal collection (enlargement of a part of the pic). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ivor Ramsden 10 Posted September 15, 2012 Share Posted September 15, 2012 VE Day near the Kiel Canal. Men of the Manx Regiment with a captured Mercedes. There is one of their the M16 quad .50 half-tracks in the background. From the archives of the Manx Aviation & Military Museum 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
25 pounder 10 Posted September 15, 2012 Share Posted September 15, 2012 I think the Germans used a lot of captured vehicles because they didn't have enough.The Allies probably avoided them to reduce the risk of being shot by their own forces. And yet they were , even when using their own equipment, it happened now and then ! :cool2: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Enigma 20 Posted September 16, 2012 Share Posted September 16, 2012 And yet they were , even when using their own equipment, it happened now and then !:cool2: Yep, no clarity in war. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Willyslancs 10 Posted September 30, 2012 Share Posted September 30, 2012 another.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FREDERIC 10 Posted October 28, 2012 Share Posted October 28, 2012 From my collection Mecedes 170 : Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gritineye 16 Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 Saw this pic in a US store and took a snap, thought the vehicles look German, bike might be a DKW, no idea what the truck is... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mcspool 11 Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 no idea what the truck is... [ATTACH=CONFIG]82850[/ATTACH] The truck looks like a German Ford V3000S, late production with flat fenders Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pzkpfw-e 10 Posted October 18, 2013 Share Posted October 18, 2013 A bit of "rebranding"! Big enough lettering? Why walk, when you can ride? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wrecker 10 Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 Kettenkrad with us troops Quote Link to post Share on other sites
broken arrow 10 Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 Sort of carrying on from this, anyone know of any captured allied vehicles that were recaptured from axis forces and survive. Understand it would be a very long shot but. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pzkpfw-e 10 Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 The Char B a Bov. Used by the Gerrmans in the Channel Islands, then brought to the UK after they surrendered. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
No Signals 13 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 One from the IWM on line collection 1st Royal Fusiliers in Italy 1943, in a captured Marder. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AlienFTM 10 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Why walk, when you can ride? Or "Why carry your weapon into battle when you can let your weapon carry you." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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