Categories
German

Radio-Controlled Demolition Vehicle—B IV

Radio-Controlled Demolition Vehicle - Borgward B IV

This vehicle is designed to convey a heavy demolition charge to a selected tactical objective, at which point the load may be dropped, the vehicle retracted, and the charge detonated. While it may be driven near the target, its special feature is the remote radio-control with which it may be operated after the driver leaves. Its chief use is to demolish pillboxes and strongpoints.

The hull, which is of one piece welded construction, is divided into three compartments. The engine, radio equipment, and hydraulic mechanism are contained in the rear compartment, the transmission units in one of the forward compartments, and the driver’s controls and instruments in the other. Three overlapping flaps of 8 mm armor protect the top of the driver’s compartment.

The vehicle is powered by a 6-cylinder, inline, water-cooled, gasoline engine, similar to commercial types. It develops approximately 80 horsepower and is supplied by two fuel tanks with a combined capacity of 28.6 gallons.

From the engine, the drive is taken forward through a fluid coupling to the gear box. Two speeds forward and two speeds reverse are provided by high and low range gears. Power is transmitted to the forward sprockets through a train of four spur gears. Suspension is on torsion bars. There are five double rubber-tired bogie wheels on each side. The cast steel center guide tracks have detachable rubber pads and are 7 3/4 inches wide.

An 800-pound explosive charge is carried in a container on the sloping front. Drop arms hinged to the sides of the front permit the warhead to be lowered to the ground, jettisoned, and the vehicle withdrawn from the destructive arc before the charge is detonated by means of a time fuze or electric detonator.

Radio control of the vehicle is effected by transmitting a carrier of frequency between 24 Mc/s and 25 Mc/s which is amplitude modulated by audio frequency tones. The transmitter power is approximately 4 watts.

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight       4 tons
Length 12 ft.
Width 6 ft.
Height (including driver’s shield) 4 ft., 7 ins.
Ground clearance 12 ins.
Tread centers 5 ft., 2 ins.
Ground contact 5 ft. 10.5 ins.
Width of track 7.75 ins.
Track links 50
Pitch of track 5.5 ins.
Armor
   Front plate 10 mm
   Sides 13 mm (5 mm + 8 mm)
Armament 800-lb. explosive charge
Engine 6-cylinder, O.H.V. gasoline, 80 horsepower.
Transmission 1 fwd, 1 reverse with high and low range—hydraulic clutch.
Steering Epicyclic steering brakes either manually or hydraulically controlled.
Crew 1
 
RADIO EQUIPMENT
Type receiver Superheterodyne
Frequency 24,600 kilocycles
Local oscillator Crystal controlled
Intermediate frequency 464 kilocycles
Tubes
   Receiver 1 ECH 11 Mixer-Oscillator
  1 EF 13 Fixed i-f amplifier
  1 EBF 11 second i-f AVC, Second detector
  2 EF 12 Audio amplifiers
   Filter unit 5 EF 12 Relay control
  1 EF 13 Relay control
Power supply 12 v. storage battery with dynamotor
Voltage Plate—200 v.
  Filament—6 v.

German: p. 40.2 (April 1, 1945)

Categories
German

Goliath – B I: Cable-Controlled Demolition Vehicle

Goliath: German Cable-Controlled Demolition Vehicle
This miniature tank, weighing less than 700 pounds, is controlled by a 2000-foot electric cable from a hand control box carried in the rear. It is used to send a demolition charge to a point at which detonation destroys the tank as well as the target. The hull is fabricated from a mild 16 gauge steel with front upper and lower sloping plates 9 mm thick. These are set at 48 degrees and 50 degrees to the vertical. The hull contains three compartments. The rear compartment houses the cable and drum; the central compartment houses the power unit and control mechanism; and the front compartment contains the high explosive charge.

The power plant consists of a 2-cylinder, 2-cycle air-cooled engine. Ignition is by coil and 6 volt battery. The power is transferred through chain drives to each track by means of electromagnetic clutches. The total reduction from the clutches to the sprocket is 9.33:1. Steering is accomplished by breaking the circuit to the side to which the turn is to be made. This releases the magnetic clutch, cutting the power from the engine for that side of the vehicle. The suspension consists of five small bogie wheels on the bottom with two return rollers on top, and an idler wheel at the rear. Each bogie is independently sprung by coil springs. The chain driven sprocket is at the front of the vehicle. The track is 6 5/16 inches wide, with a simple grouser placed on every other track pin.

This vehicle carries an estimated 100-125 pounds of explosive, and has sufficient power to operate on practically all types of terrain. The control cable consists of three strands, in pairs, two for steering, and the third for setting off the detonator. In operation, the engines are started by a hand crank, the clutches engaged, and the tank then handled from the control box through the cable. Another version of this tank is powered by two electric motors.

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight      650 lbs.
Length 5 ft., 3 ins.
Width 2 ft., 10 ins.
Height 2 ft.
Ground clearance 5 1/4 ins.
Tread centers 2 ft., 3 ins.
Ground contact 2 ft., 6 1/2 ins.
Width of track 6 5/16 ins.
Pitch of track 2 13/16 ins.
Track links 47
Theoretical radius of action 770 yds.
Speed 4 to 6 m.p.h.
Armor
     Front plate (upper and lower nose) 9 mm
     Hull 16 gauge steel
Armament (100-125 est.) pound explosive charge
Engine Inline 2 cylinder, 2 cycle
Transmission Chain drive, through electric magnetic clutch.
Steering Controlled by two electric clutches

German: p. 40.1 (April 1, 1945)