What are the advantages of tracked vehicles?

[ed21x]

I'm looking at pictures of tanks online and noticed that vehicles with tracks on them seem to have really low clearance, not to mention maintenance on those tracks much be a pain- one broken link and the entire tank is immobilized!

With wheels, you can just swap one out when one breaks. In addition, you can use independent hydraulic suspensions to make your car better at inclines. And I'm sure the higher clearance of wheeled vehicles is better for off roading as well. So how come tanks and APCs tend to use tracks? Is the better road grip from the increased surface area enough to offset all the advantages that i've listed? And I'm comparing a tank chasis to something like a 3x3 stryker vehicle or something like that.

 

[silverpig]

You won't get stuck in a rut. Wheels suck for anything other than the easiest terrain. Look on youtube for "mattracks"

 

[Bignate603]

It's to spread out the weight. A vehicle as heavy as a tank would sink into the ground if it didn't have a large area to spread its weight over.

As for the clearance, it doesn't need as much as you would think. Imagine driving over a large step. The wheeled vehicle could easily get high centered but the tracked vehicle can't because it has the tracks down its full length.

 

[sandorski]

Just speculating: the lower profile is made possible with Tracks as they are much more able to handle the weight, (especially for early Tanks) no worries about Flat Tires, better traction in a wide variety of Terrain, (especially for early Tanks) easier to steer.

 

[MedicBob]

2 big reasons... Movement over terrain and weight reduction via PSI.

 

[Dacalo]

What they said. Also, tracks allow the tank to turn without moving forward or backward (useful in tight spots, small roads).

 

[MotF Bane]

Tracks aren't that hard to replace either. You don't even need to jack the vehicle up off the ground like you would with wheels.

 

[ed21x]

well i'm thinking if you had say 8 wheels on a tank instead of tracks, wouldn't that provide most of the advantages of tracks while being easier to maintain?

 

[FallenHero]

Originally posted by: ed21x
well i'm thinking if you had say 8 wheels on a tank instead of tracks, wouldn't that provide most of the advantages of tracks while being easier to maintain?

No, for the above mentioned reasons.

I'm sure it's been studied by the US Army, and they have come to the conclusion that you are wrong.

 

[Greenman]

All of the above reasons plus, with wheels you could stop a tank with small arms fire.

 

[Eeezee]

Why don't aircraft carriers launch planes with treadmills?

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: Greenman
All of the above reasons plus, with wheels you could stop a tank with small arms fire.

True dat.
BTW, I didn't get your Mod payment this month. I don't think you want to go there, again.

 

[Throckmorton]

Tracks+:
Spread weight over much larger surface area
No high centering
Much more traction
Immune to bullets

Tracks-:
Heavy
Expensive
Damage roads
Low speed
Noisy

Wheels+:
Higher speed
Easier to repair
Lighter
Quiet
Easy on roads

Wheels-:
Can be shot out (but can also have internal solid rubber runflat ring)
More pressure per area of ground
Vehicle can high center
Less traction

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: Eeezee
Why don't aircraft carriers launch planes with treadmills?

You would have to extend the Runway for the Truck pulling the Tarp with. It's just less costly and maneuverability falls with Length.

 

[ElFenix]

there are some wheeled armored vehicles


but you'll note that tanks tend to weigh in at over 40 tons, with the best NATO tanks weighing in over 60 tons. wheels aren't going to work for that.

 

[Throckmorton]

ElFenix you forgot the Stryker http://www.lotustalk.com/forum...yker_with_slats_lg.jpg

 

[Ronstang]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
there are some wheeled armored vehicles


but you'll note that tanks tend to weigh in at over 40 tons, with the best NATO tanks weighing in over 60 tons. wheels aren't going to work for that.

Don't forget the original eight wheeled armored vehicle.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

The Stryker is a wheeled vehicle.

 

[keird]

The Stryker is still mobile with a number of damaged/destroyed wheels. Tracked vehicles have to be repaired; exposes the crew while repairing, too.

 

[0roo0roo]

tanks weigh so much you wouldn't be doing "off roading".

 

[TroyEade]

What i don't get is half tracks. You know the ones, with a track at the back and steering through either one or two normal wheels at the front. What's the advantage of those, and how can you steer when the torque from the tracks would counter act any turning movement on the wheels?

 

[grrl]

Originally posted by: TroyEade
What i don't get is half tracks. You know the ones, with a track at the back and steering through either one or two normal wheels at the front. What's the advantage of those, and how can you steer when the torque from the tracks would counter act any turning movement on the wheels?

Half tracks were a compromise. They offered better cross country performance than a wheeled vehicle and higher speeds than a fully tracked one. They were also better at towing trailers than the tracked 'crawlers'. AFAIK, the German half tracks steered through both the wheels and tracks, but the American ones didn't.

Although they were used up through the 70s, if not later, (especially by the Israelis) no modern armies use them anymore since modern fully tracked vehicles offer far better protection, speed and performance.