gallery modelraiser

Sunday, March 12, 2006

Marder & steyr. Fight with mud




In russian front the distances were enormous, and if it rains the road became a marsh, that impeded a fast movement war.
For these roads was designed the Raupenslepper-Ost, perhaps the best tracked tractor in the war. The Steyr RSO was a commercial van that drives like a tank. It lightness, powerfull engine and wide tracks converted it in favourite vehicle for transport and towing; but army haven't enought Steyrs.
The Steyr is parked in a street. Near to a warehouse is parked a Marder, a simple self propelled gun. The more artillery need forced to transform light tanks into vehicles like this; It haven't turret and its bodywork have open roof, but it was a cheap and easy production armoured vehicle. however, The crew suffered the climate, it was very vulnerable and its combat performance was poor.
En el frente ruso las distancias eran enormes, y si llovia, la carretera se convertia en una cienaga impracticable que impedia una guerra de movimientos rapidos.
Para este tipo de carreteras se desarrollo el Raupenslepper-Ost, quiza el mejor tractor con cadenas de la guerra. El Steyr RSO era una camioneta comercial que se conducia como un tanque; su ligereza, potencia y anchura de la cadena le convirtieron en el vehiculo favorito para el transporte y remolque, pero nunca hubo suficientes.
En este diorama, un Steyr descansa en una calle. Junto al almacen esta aparcado un Marder sobre chasis Panzer II, un sencillo caƱon autopropulsado. La necesidad de mas artilleria obligo a la transformacion de carros ligeros en vehiculos como este. No tener torreta y tener superestructura abierta le convertia en un vehiculo barato y facil de fabricar; otra historia son los padecimientos de la tripulacion en un clima como este, su vulnerabilidad en combate y su bajo rendimiento por no tener torreta.