Why did German tanks have transmission at front?

Protection The engine and transmission in front act as additional armor if the front of the tank is penetrated, the crew can survive a hit that would normally go into the fighting compartment on a rear engine vehicle.

Where is the drive sprocket on a tank?

Most WW2 tanks were powered from a drive sprocket at the front of the tank but most tanks made towards the end or after WW2 were driven with a rear sprocket. Does anyone know why this was? Was it because of packaging problems having the engine and gearbox etc at the rear?

What are road wheels on a tank?

The road wheels (also called bogies if they are mounted on trucks) support the weight of the tank or other tracked vehicle while rolling over the caterpillar track. The drive sprocket is part of the drive train, and applies mechanical power to the track.

What is a bicycle sprocket?

A sprocket, sprocket-wheel or chainwheel is a profiled wheel with teeth that mesh with a chain, track or other perforated or indented material. The name ‘sprocket’ applies generally to any wheel upon which radial projections engage a chain passing over it.

Why do some tanks have sprockets in the front?

Porsche Tiger. This is a bit of a cheat because it had drive sprocket both front and rear. As to why some tanks had the sprockets in the front? Partially it was because the transmission would be in the front to make it easier for the driver to change gears.

How did WW2 tanks drive?

WW2 US tanks (pre-Pershing) have a really weird system of rear-engine, front-drive, where the drive shaft goes from the engine (an aircraft radial when it was first conceived) to the front of the tank, where it drives the sprockets in the front.

Why is the gearbox at the front of a tank?

Gearbox at the front gives a big block of metal between incoming fire and the crew for additional crew protection (this reason often given for layout of WW2 German designs and the Merkava) Returning tracks will shed mud, sand etc before they reach the drive sprockets so wear on tracks and sprockets is reduced

Why did German tanks have a full power pack on the rear?

The full power pack in the rear helped make it faster to change, which was good because it was as if not more unreliable than most German Tanks. The turret at the front was so heavy that they couldn’t thicken the front armor anymore without risking the tank flipping at a hard stop.