The Tank Museum

Fighting in the snow...

Here whitewashed tanks and an Armoured recovery vehicle of the US Seventh Army wait to advance north of Strasbourg.

For centuries fighting traditionally died down for the winter months as armies sought winter quarters, but in the 20th Century with the advent of mechanisation this became less prevalent.

However, in conditions such as this it was not just the enemy that was a danger but the elements too. A tank could become so cold on touch that bare skin would freeze to the metal.

1 day ago | [YT] | 5,037



@WarFoxThunder

Dear god imagine how cold it was if there were m18s there

1 day ago | 46

@RichardOrr-f9l

My uncles were there with the Canadian army. I feel bad when i snivel abot the winter. Bless all of them, should never have happened. Doesn't diminish what they did for us. Greatest generation

1 day ago | 46

@WhizzingFish12

This reminded me of a funny story from my time in service. I was an M1 tanker in West Germany in the 1980s, in the 2nd Armored Cavalry Reginent, which, along with the 11th ACR, was literally the first unit the Warsaw Pact would hit if WWIII had taken place. We trained relentlessly and patrolled the E/W border out of a chain of border camps as well. We often sent out "quick reaction forces" to respond to provocations or threats to our patrols. Showing the flag in a very clear manner. During my 13 border tours, I was in many of them as a tank driver, gunner, and commander. We were "blown out" on one snowy day; our reaction force consisted of 2xM1s and 3xM3 Bradleys. As we went through a small town called Rotz, the lead tank in front of me tried to take a tight turn in the middle of town while going about 7-8 mph. Instead, it slid snoothly straight ahead and the 63 TON tank punched its main gun through the wall of a bank DURING BUSINESS HOURS. 2 cars were crushed and a huge chunk of wall destroyed, but thank God no one was hurt. That tank commander was absolutely lit up - so glad I wasnt the first tank that day!

21 hours ago | 6  

@farmerpier

I live in Luxembourg. When I was a child, an old neighbor told me he watched as a kid a Sherman sliding on an icy street downhill and crashing into a house.... Famous general Winter makes his own rules....

1 day ago (edited) | 22

@Panzer_Please

SHERMANS!!!! Love those winter camo designs.

1 day ago (edited) | 19  

@riculver992

Even Sherman's love playing in the snow

1 day ago | 8  

@mcnoogets28

Now that is what I call a snowball fight

1 day ago | 3  

@The_Tyfarious453

🎶 Dashing through the snow, on a one engine open sleigh🎶 But Sherman's aren't open topp

1 day ago | 6  

@MidwayVr1945

Cool picture

23 hours ago | 3  

@jimthedragon2755

Even later in the 20th century it was tough, nothing like vacation M1 sliding down hill on an icy road, you had a 60 ton uncontrollable bobsled!

16 hours ago | 2

@Jai-t3h2k

phew .........mate it's sooooo c-c-col-cold hhhere , give me soup please.

1 day ago | 3  

@S.e.e.t.e.u.f.e.l

The Panther Tank offered a bit more winter comfort. The fighting compartment was heated by the warmed exhaust air from the left radiator. The left fan wheel ensured air circulation. The Russians were even more winter-ready: the T-34 had attachment points on the rear of the engine compartment for mounting a wood-burning stove to the outside to warm the crew, in combination with a tarpaulin.

1 day ago | 5

@That_one_porsche_fan

Me and the bros having a hogh stakes snowball fight

1 day ago | 1  

@Agent-xX51Xx

Dashing through the snow, avoiding the Art-ill-ery, praying I get home To meet my family! Tbh that turned out more dark than humorous. I apologize

1 day ago | 2

@randomyoutubeenjoyer6010

"Don't say you try to lick the steel again" "Huhh, whaaah?"

17 hours ago | 0  

@Camaro_man437

When someone throws a snowball with a rock in it, the snowball fight gets real bad.

17 hours ago | 0  

@TheCrowShow827

I read that first line to the tune of jingle bells

1 day ago | 1  

@sturoe7361

Dam glad I wasn't in one at any time, might love looking at them ,but that's as much as I need . To be happy.

1 day ago | 2

@Michael_Zwing

The kids came out to play in the snow.

1 day ago | 1  

@siskothekid4620

i’ve always been curious if it was actual paint they used or something you could rinse off. mainly because, anyone who’s lived in a region where snow is common in the winter, there are those little gaps where the snow completely melts away even though it’s the middle of winter. I can’t imagine what it would feel like going around in a environment with no snow in a brilliant white tank.

16 hours ago | 0