What's With the Logs on Soviet Tanks? | Koala Explains: Tanks - Tracks and Traction 

Unfortunately it's not a cheap spoiler for extra speed...

Soviet engineers: "Sometimes my genius is almost frightening"

Apparently Ukrainian tractors are also good at moving Russian tractors...

I did this with some big ass branches when I got my blazer stuck in the mud in 2007

Excellent ability to put few sentences info into 5 minutes movie.

one of the first "woodie wagons".

the log is used to stretch the track so they can be reinstalled after repair!.

Keep on tracking ✊🏽

That stug which popped up. Its actually finnish.

Actually, tank crews were told that they must keep a log, but they were too lazy to write down stuff like fuel, oil and ammo expenditures, maintenance, etc, every single day. Too boring. This is how they got around the regulations. Soldier's ingenuity!

"no, the bulldozer is not a tank" killdozer: not with that attitude lad.

"Help me step tank, I am stuck" "Don't worry, my huge log can help you"

I love how from the very first tanks, we already perfected unditching procedures and technology: shove a log under the tracks.

The Log is camouflage, makes the enemy think its a mobile forest.

Behold the anti-mud stick!

The log is clearly an advanced anti-tank weapon

We're seeing the Soviet military has a lot more problems than just logs

You rarely saw an unditching beam on a German tank in WW 2. What you did see a lot of, were towing cables, a practice among most western tanks, still used to this day. They have the advantage over the unditching beam in that an experienced crew can have a tow cable attached in less than a minute and the tank that’s stuck back in operation just as quickly. In addition, should the problem be mechanical in nature, such as an engine or transmission failure, or the tank simply ran out of fuel, by taking the other tank in tow with a still operational tank, you can avoid the potential loss of a mostly serviceable tank in the event you have to withdraw. You can’t always count on an ARV being there when you need it and sometimes you only have minutes, rather than hours, to recover your tank. BTW, I once witnessed an entire chain of tanks being used to get one tank unstuck (3 to tow 1). It worked.

My fish tank doesn't have tracks, so it's actually a fish armored car

NATO: we have specialised armoured recovery vehicles to rescue our vehicles in difficult terrain Russia: *sticc*

I especially like how they kept the log, but started using carved and smooth ones after a certain point. Like someone at some point thought "this is very useful, but a bit ungainly..." and decided to make a gourmet log.

Soviet trams also have them for the same reason.

Love it when a blog makes it look like the Russians have all these great ideas. American armor crewmen are trained in this technique for self recovery when stuck. Sure we have recovery vehicles but they aren't always handy. Good crews are self reliant whenever possible.

Everyone who plays war thunder knows thats the anti-everything shield.

Americans: oh shit, the tank is stuck, quickly, let's call in the armored recovery vehicle Soviets: Blyat, stuck again, Ivan, help me get the tactical L O G edit: this shit aged like milk lmao

Russians: the best at solving complex problem using simple solutioms

USA: Design another vehicle to solve the problem of stuck tanks, probably spending billions in RnD, manufacturing and training. USSR: Log

A Ukrainian John Deere tractor can also get a Russian tank unstuck.

so thats how fury bounced a side shot from a tiger. shoulda known it was the log

You are forgetting a crucial part of this method. The log is not only just put in front of the tracks, it is also attached to the tracks as you can clearly see in the footage. The log will become trapped in the mud under the tank which will allow for the tanks to use it as an anchor point from which it will be able to project itself forward. If the log is not attached the tracks will simple graze the log and chew it to bits. This also means the tank can only move forward until the log reaches the back end of the track because it can not travel further. If the tanks is still bogged down the log will have to be removed from the back end and be reattached to the front. It is a crude, but very successful and low-cost way to get your tank unbogged.

Its self recovery. While stationed in Germany we used our tie-down chains (all long distance moves are made by rail so we had 4 tie-down chains per vehicle on the outside) hooked to the track and anchored around trees. Hoenfels is a training area for maneuvers and sees so much use the tank trails turn to mud bogs.

The Russian people are pragmatic and that is one of the things that I admire most about them. Peace on earth and good will to all.

It's not a Russian tank unless there's a log behind it

3:35 Wargamers everywhere start arguing on whether to paint camo on logs or not.

You Can also cut off small chips on the ends for fuel in a samovar, to make some tea during the snowy days))

Logs also provide a means to get higher elevation or depression of the main gun by lifting the front or back end if the tank a s needed. Soviet and Russian tanks have historically had poor range of elevation/depression for their main guns.

Americans trained to use logs as well, we just didn't carry them around.

I didn't realise they continued this method for so long. I think this is when the phrase 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' comes into play

"Bulldozers are not tanks" Tell that to Marvin Heemeyer and his Komatsu D355A.

That's what they want you to think Koala. We all know the logs are used as advanced disguised ERA.

Maybe, IF Russia had laid down all those logs in the Ukrainian farmer's fields to make a wooden "road," they wouldn't have gotten stuck in the mud...

Tank designer: I have created this incredible machine! Tank commander: We'll just cut a tree down, stick it on the back, and use it when "this Incredible Machine" gets stuck.

Sad to see that the T-14 is losing a piece of Russian tradition

Tracks doesn't mean it's a tank Every farmer with a tractor: I got a tank

Jeremy Clarkson: It's a tank's handbrake *"Sometimes my genius is... it's almost frightening"*

The easiest and most proven way to unstuck Russian tanks and armors is to have a Ukrainian shoot it with Javelins, NLAWS and Panzefaust 3 in Ukraine.

How did different WW2 nations solve the problem of tanks being stuck in the mud? - Americans: we have plenty of vehicles, just send them in to tow the tank out. - Germans: let's replace the whole track on all our tanks. - Soviets: just carry a log.

That's not ordinary log Tovarish, that is Stalinwood, harvested from stalinium rich soil, or side product from Stalinium mine

its clearly a spoiler to create downforce for extra traction xDD

Ah the recovery log. Learned about these during Vehicle ID classes in the Army. Absolutely genius idea, I learned to use large rocks in this manner to surprising results. Also used said rock trick to pop track back on an M113A3 that threw track.

I remember seeing this on some old WWII tanks in the history books. I believe those were to help somehow replace a thrown track or get unstuck if bogged down

Seeing so many Russian Tanks now stuck in Ukrainian Soil, I wonder: Got those logs just sold for money or did the tank crew now even undertake basic training ?

no the log is armour, they actually use the troops to get the tank out from the mud.

15 seconds in and Marvin Heemeyer is already rolling in his grave

The log itself has 100mm armor on War Thunder LOL

They crew don’t really know. They haven’t been trained how to use the advanced “log technology” yet.

I don't like the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but aside from that subject, I admire the practically of this. Decades ago, in the height of the space race, we Americans spent time and gobs of taxpayer dollars to develop a pen that would work in zero gravity. The space pen. The Russians used a pencil.

The log is for intimidation purposes speak softly but carry big stick.

"No a bulldozer is not a tank" killdozer reference?

While I was aware of this already, it's great to see some footage of Russians using the logs. It's also interesting to see more modern vehicles utilise this low-tech approach to unbogging.

I bet they wish they had some logs in Ukraine now, lol. So many stuck

“A bulldozer is not a tank” Bob Semple tank: “ Am I a joke to you?” Every other tank: “Yes”

The logs are for protection, soviet wood > western steel

Super informative video. I personally don't mind the short length, being clear and concise is great. Thanks for the excelent content.

when you run out of ammo just yeet the thing at the enemy

If their turret is blown off by the enemy, the crew can quickly replace the tank's cannon with the log.

Clear, concise, informative. Great clip. This is how to make quality content.

Looks like they forgot the logs in Ukraine

Koala: a bulldozer is not a tank. Marvin Heemeyer would like to have a word.

For bigger flame while russian tank is burning by javeline

And here we are in 2022 and now we know that's just Russian armor. lol

Actually something I had never given any thought to but this has been illuminating. I do tend to keep a few scraps of lumber in the back of my car because I have found them very useful on occasions of getting stuck in snow, especially on unpaved or poorly maintained rural roads.

I really like where this channel is going with its interesting contents. Keep it up!

Armor Cast: No, a bulldozer is not a tank Killdozer: Are you sure about that?

When he was talking about tracks at the beginning i knew exactly what the logs use was for.

Russia forgot to bring logs to Ukraine and got stuck in the mud

The log is there in case they forget their lunch. They need something to eat.

Tank: I'm stuck Steptank: Let me HELP!!!

M1 abrams: damn got stuck in the deep mud! T90: *drives away with no problem* T14: *uses the abrams as a bridge*

No, a bulldozer is not a tank IDF Caretpillar D9 Doobi: am I a joke to you?

T-14 Armata is vaporware. There is no such functioning T-14, it's an imagination.

The log is for a camp fire when the tank breaks down

It's a spoiler

if they are getting stuck, they dig down in front and put the log there. The tracks grab the log, and they can get going again. I read a book about Russian self-propelled guns in WW2, and he said they always carried logs for that purpose. He had served in Tanks and self-propelled guns 152 and 85m. He preferred SPGs because tanks are blind really.

Interestingly, I remember an American training video on tank hunting mentioning how you can use a lug to get the treads of a tank stuck when jammed in the right spot. Sadly, the log was quite a bit smaller than these in the demonstration, and I'm not sure one this large could possibly work. Certainly a fun idea to think about, though, stealing a log only to use it against them :0

What rolls down stairs, alone or in pairs, rolls over the neighbour's dog?

nice video , answers the thumbnail and title in 30 seconds, then explains the details in the rest of the video +1 sub

Important rule: if you are making Russian tank, ALWAYS add log behind

"No, a bulldozer is not a tank" Tell that to the chap who turned a bulldozer into the kill dozer and wrecked half a town as a protest...

Time trip back to 1916 and you'd see British Mk1's with large logs chained onboard for de-bogging.

The log is used to make coffins for the crew.

hey... have you seen bulldozers in their natural habitat, during mating season? what do you think those giant antlers are for? when it's about a cute little backhoe in heat, every bulldozer gets a fighting vehicle!

You won't see one on a T-14....because that would require seeing a T-14 off of the parade grounds.

3:47 Should that cable snap (happens) that soldier would be rent in twain. Not where you stand, Pvt. Bonehead.

I dont need to Watch the Video and Paused it at 0:01 Minute. The Log is for: When the Tank is Stuck in the Mud you use the log and put it Under the Tracks then Move forward.

Hey Vladimir Putin, When stuck in Ukraine beware of their farmers. Just saying

they are currently stuck in Ukrainian mud, let's hope the Russians don't find this Video...

Apparently Russia is so poor they can no longer afford the log and they just abandon the vehicles now.

Did the Russians forget to bring the tactical logs to Ukraine? I have seen a lot of videos of stuck tanks and other vehicles that were abandoned.

In the excavation business, a couple of logs is the only way to unstuck a bulldozer.