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Abattle sled (battle sledge,tank sledge orarmoured sledge) is a protective device dragged behind an armored vehicle that is used to carryinfantry closer to thefront lines of abattle zone. They were used by multiple combatants duringWorld War II.
TheUnited States Army trialed battle sleds during the World War IIBattle of Anzio. GeneralJohn W. O'Daniel, commander of the3rd Infantry Division, ordered torpedoes to be cut in half for the purpose. Six torpedo halves, each carrying one prone infantryman, were then chained together into a unit, with one tank pulling two such chains. A total of 360 such sleds were manufactured and used during the Battle of Anzio.[1]
The sleds were disliked by the infantrymen, who "felt like 'dead ducks'" in them. Their use was also impeded by rough ground and the loss of the tanks pulling the chains of sleds. O'Daniel himself viewed the combat trials as "inconclusive". Salvaged sleds were used later in theinvasion of Southern France.[1]
In World War II,Nazi Germany built large battle sleds that were towed behind anassault gun. These large sleds were less likely to tip over on hills. They were tested in the winter in snow and ice inTirol, Austria. Like the US sleds, few saw combat. The sleds were towed often by theStug III, an assault gun or aPanzer III tank. The goal was the infantry could quickly unload from the sleds and help the assault gun when needed.[2][unreliable source?][citation needed]
In World War II, theSoviet Union used armored battle sleds inWinter War inwinter battles in theKarelian Isthmus againstFinland. The sleds were smaller with one line of infantry behind an armored plate towed by a tank.[citation needed] The armored sleds carrying infantrymen helped to resolve the problem of deep snow slowing down the foot soldiers.[3]
The United Kingdom tested armoured sledges, but did not use them in battle for troops. AChurchill tank was used to tow an experimental armored sled in the test.[4][5][not specific enough to verify] TheAVRE trailers test was done by theArmoured Vehicle Royal Engineers. United Kingdom battle sleds were used to move battle stores andammunition.[citation needed]Centaur tanks andM7 Priest were used to tow the ammunitionporpoise sledge at theNormandy landings onJuno Beach. Theporpoise sledge had a low profile and was stored under the tanks on thelanding crafts. Theporpoise sledge has water tight storage bays for the ammunition.[6][7][unreliable source?][8]
