bazooka10165 Posted April 1, 2000 Share Posted April 1, 2000 I remember as a kid buying a model kit of a German weapon which I think was called Goliath. It looked like a miniature wire controlled tank packed with explosives. Supposedly, engineers would use it to destroy bunkers. Anyone ever hear of this? and NO, I am not implying that it should be modelled in Combat Mission. BTW - Is calling a miniature tank Goliath the only known example of the German Army showing a sense of humor? [This message has been edited by bazooka10165 (edited 03-31-2000).] [This message has been edited by bazooka10165 (edited 03-31-2000).] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lorak Posted April 1, 2000 Share Posted April 1, 2000 Yep, the Germans used them. Most were wire guided, some were radio controlled. I just saw a picture of one on the web the other day. I'll try to find it and post the link. Lorak ------------------ http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/combatmissionclub Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mch Posted April 1, 2000 Share Posted April 1, 2000 Heard of it.I believe it was used against tanks,mostly.They'd just drive it under a Tank and press the button.I think that some were used on D-Day,but i'm not too shure. (Seen D-Day pictures of U.s. Engineers playing with them,riding on them!) may be a companion to the Maus in the sense of humor department! ------------------ It is no disgrace to be defeated...It is a disgrace to be surprised. -attr.to Fredrick the Great- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lorak Posted April 1, 2000 Share Posted April 1, 2000 OK here is the link... http://geocities.com/pentagon/3620/gol.htm Of course Credit for this goes once again to Our Forum search master: Guachi-aka Jason Lorak ------------------ http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/combatmissionclub Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobVarak Posted April 1, 2000 Share Posted April 1, 2000 They were primarily used by Germans on the Atlantic Wall. In Paul Carell's book on D-day, he indicates that most didn't work because debris and water thrown about by the Allied bombardment fouled up the machinery. He does relate one story (apocryphal or not I don't know) in which curious GI's place a grenade inside of one. Needless to say, it was a rude awakening for the entire squad. ------------------ Rob Varak Editor Site on Sound: The Web's Premier Site For Musical Discussion www.siteonsound.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
von Lucke Posted April 1, 2000 Share Posted April 1, 2000 I've also read that the one functional SturmMorser Tiger unit assigned to the West also carried Goliath's as part of their TOE. I guess the theory was if you couldn't blow it up by brute force, try a little finesse... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bakker@home Posted April 1, 2000 Share Posted April 1, 2000 Quote: "BTW - Is calling a miniature tank Goliath the only known example of the German Army showing a sense of humor?" Well they named a experimental 100 ton tank the Maus (mouse) ........ . Grtz S Bakker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Sabot Posted April 1, 2000 Share Posted April 1, 2000 I believe the first battle these were used was the German counter-offensive at Anzio. I also remembered American troops capturing a few on D-Day (Utah beach?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johan Brittz Posted April 1, 2000 Share Posted April 1, 2000 Read somwhere that they were first tested against stronpoints put up by the Polish guys in the Warszawa uprising. Don't know if that was before Anzio? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Big Time Software Posted April 1, 2000 Share Posted April 1, 2000 There were several types. The Goliath was the smallest one and can be seen at The Tank Museum at Bovington Camp in England. Cute little bugger Another was called the Springer. This was much bigger and could actually be ridden on by the engineer. By and large these were supposed to be used for taking out fixed foritifications. The idea came up due to the experiences on the Eastern Front. I think it was a good idea in theory, but since the Germans were on the defensive by the time they came into service the point of them was altered to be a semi offensive weapon. They weren't good for that at all. Thinly armored and realitively slow, they were easy to pick off. Yes, there were large numbers in the West. The original concept, I think, was to drive them at landing craft or tanks parked on the sand. But for a variety of reasons, this didn't work out at all. There were hundreds of these buggers in the West (might have even topped a thousand), but I have never once read about a successful use. I am sure it happened a few times, but percentage wise they have to be looked at as a disaster. There is a funny picture of some GIs playing around with one. A soldier sat on it while another one drove him around. Looked like fun, but not if the TNT was still under his butt! "Hey Sarge, what does this red button do?" Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UserName* Posted April 2, 2000 Share Posted April 2, 2000 I thought that they were called Goliath after the Goliath beetle. They were for clearing minefields and bunkers and such. These are "teleoperated" weapons in todays lingo. I think a good weapon would have been to make it a little larger and bullet proof and mount a flame thrower. Lewis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted April 2, 2000 Share Posted April 2, 2000 Flying monkeys perhaps? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Posted April 2, 2000 Share Posted April 2, 2000 Now theres an idea for a christmas gift ------------------ The names Ash, Housewares Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trooper Posted April 4, 2000 Share Posted April 4, 2000 Ack, I had a scanned picture I took in Bovington of Cuddly Tank on a Goliath.. I'm sure it's lying around somewhere... For those wondering who Cuddly Tank is, http://www.clubi.ie/exalted/images/nicknessie/cdlytank.jpg He's very friendly.. NTM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darwin Posted April 4, 2000 Share Posted April 4, 2000 Let me guess, cuddly is your pinkish imitation fur condom which comes with (unbuttoned in this case) matching pants??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts