Why did the Germans cover their tanks with a special plaster

History 06/02/20 Why the Germans covered their tanks with a special plaster

On the battlefields of the great Patriotic war not only soldiers, but also the advanced technology of the two countries. At the end of the first year of the war Hitler’s engineers began to explore the creation of tanks, superior in design terms to the Soviet KV-1 and T-34. In August 1942 near the village of mga in Leningrad region in combat conditions for the first time tested the tank “Tiger”, and in 1943, right before the battle of Kursk, first saw the light of the Panthers.

fire with fire

“Tiger”, “Panther” and self-propelled artillery of the company of Porsche, Ferdinand was very thick and sturdy layer of armor. Against her Soviet anti-tank guns and anti-tank grenade RPG-40 (constructor Puzyrev) and RPG-43 (designer Belyakov) was ineffective. Commissioning of a powerful grenade RPG-6 was held only in November 1943.

Chimericana coating

Soon the command of the Reich was seriously worried that opponents may use against the new tanks, magnetic mines cumulative, similar to the development of German HHL-3. A magnetic mine was attached to a body armored with three horseshoe magnets and was able to penetrate the armor thickness of 10-14 inches, thus causing irreversible damage. Despite the absence of such technologies from the Soviet Union and its allies, by mid-1943, Berlin “Chemical Plant Zimmer and Co.” has developed a paste-like coating for tanks, called Cimmeria. The daubing of “Tigers” and “Panthers” new substance is produced in several layers, was intended to weaken the force of the magnet and to prevent the attachment of the mines. Ribbed surface according to physical laws also have reduced magnetic attraction.

a Short song

Commericale cover has ceased to apply at the end of 1944. First, because of the erroneous information that zimmerit onblade high Flammability. Field tests have disproved this misconception, however, the command was occupied with more important things and not issued the relevant order on the resumption of use. Secondly, putty and a full treatment of the hull took a lot of precious time at least a few days. Thirdly, fighters of anti-Hitler coalition had used magnetic mines not as often as predicted.

So, chimericana coating remained in the history of tank development is most ambiguous and the most unclaimed invention. In may 1944, the German factory has released another novelty – a disposable anti-tank grenade launcher “Panzerfaust”, which has established itself as a formidable weapon.

Ivan Komarnicki

Source:
© Russian Seven

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