re: #360 Kilroy01

They said fire, not explosion so I’m assuming it is an external fire (an internal fire would have to overwhelm the fire suppression system which is pretty “robust” in a tank. )

Even if you only get the track pads (rubber normally) to burn you may get a mobility kill, at least until that section of track is replaced.
(assuming it is “live” track - which I’d bet money it is)

The rubber pads in some tracks are ‘road pads’. Their purpose is to do less damage to asphalt roads. The individual links - the key part of the track - are metal. If you can get the rubber burning it won’t be a mobility kill. Odds are that the crew won’t even notice it. If the tank is moving at all there’s a decent chance a pad on fire will get smothered as it goes against the ground.

The belt is a chain of metal plates. Each is linked together with a hinge pin. In the M1 series this link is about as long as the average man’s forearm and about as thick around as a roll of quarters. It is one of the least fun activities I know to have to break and reconnect track.

I know because I got to do it when my tank threw its track when it slid sideways into a mud hole. My fault, I was TC and mis-read how soft the ground was when I had the driver stop there. Even with the help of the recovery vehicle it took a few hours and left us all sore and tired.

I know because I got to do it in garrison when we decided a link was too worn. Unhinge, move the tank so the tread rolls out, replace that link, run the chain and roll the tank back, fasten the last linkpin. Even with recovery vehicle, bright shining day, all the tools, and a concrete surface it took a few hours and left us all sore and tired.

But replace a pad? A couple of bolts, total.