Comments on: Patently Absurd Special: Return to France with Monsieur Boireaux

By: Poulpman

Poulpman — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 06:34:36 +0000

The military history of France encompasses an immense panorama of conflicts and struggles extending for more than 2,000 years across areas including modernFrance, the European continent, and a variety of regions throughout the world.According to the British historian Niall Ferguson, France has participated in 168 major European battles, out of which it won 109, drew 10 and lost 49, which according to him makes France the most successful military power in European history.[1]

Get your facts instead of repeating moronic stuff.

By: JBadger

JBadger — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 20:20:44 +0000

Sorry you lost me at “France has a long and glorious military history” Still laughing.

15,000 French Rifles for sale some never fired, most only dropped once.

By: BloodyShart

BloodyShart — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 18:51:53 +0000

Wow that train thing looks like something that came out of Zelda’s arsenal (from “Terra hawks” series) :-)

By: rabiesdog

rabiesdog — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 17:53:50 +0000

Only two. 1. Wider ditches would stop serving their purpose due to them beeing wrecked by artillery more effectively. 2. The couplings seem dimensioned large enough to handle the force of the front unit wanting to dip into the trench when crossing. I do not think it was ment for the entire front unit to dangle in the air on the coupling. Just large enough to keep the front end up using the principle of leverage.

Even if the ditch was wider then the lenght of the tracks it would not have been a big deal. If it would not be able to climb up on the other side it would just reverse back out of it thanks to that hinged coupling and still be in action. A regular tank would be stuck with no way out and effectively out of the action/sitting duck for target practice.

By: Souroy

Souroy — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 17:46:35 +0000

This remind me the story of the M4 Sherman “Hartmannswillerkopf” of the 501e RCC (2e DB):

13th September 1944 – Remoncourt

Lieutenant Christen’s “Hartmannswillerkopf” is hit at point-blank range by a well camouflaged 50mm: the shell grazed the loader (Miguras), who just bent down to grab a biscuit which fell to his feet, and pierced the chest of our comrade Hall, a young 21 years old English who enlisted in the Free French Forces in 1941.

The 4 crewmembers lept down of the tank and the driver, corporal Henri Vilette, who saw the German gun, took a dagger off his boot, threw himself on the terrorized servants and, in a fierce hand-to-hand fight where he was alone against five adversaries, killed several of them.
His belt is ornated of a collection of insignias and iron crosses of the Wehrmacht.

During the same combat another Sherman, the “Dixmude”, was hit (fuel tanks pierced) but this time without damage on the crew.

The corporal Vilette was killed in action a week later (20th September 1944).

By: ViKing_6

ViKing_6 — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 17:36:16 +0000

For those who are wondering, “Boireaux” is to pronounce “Bwaro” :D

By: nixxxie

nixxxie — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 17:13:14 +0000

There is a lot of “as long” ;) in this statement, it implies that certain perfect conditions are needed for success.

And, couplings are hinged on all drawings, this train would simply fold down.

By: turarwanaa

turarwanaa — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 16:53:59 +0000

No, the rear actually houses a credit printing facility, everyone knows that. :) And water/tea reserves for the crew obviously.

By: exocet6951

exocet6951 — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 16:42:54 +0000

Quite frankly, if I were a German soldier manning an AT gun in 1944, and saw a Boireaux device creeping up on me in a field, I’d just go: “nope” and get the fuck out of there.

If someone is crazy enough to drive that thing into battle, I would be legitimately concerned for my own life, for fear of a crazed Rambo-like character jumping out of the burning wreck and dealing berserker fury upon his enemies using only his knife and bare (or bear, don’t know which is more terrifying to be honest) hands.

By: Solidsnook

Solidsnook — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 16:38:46 +0000

Nixxie, Baldrickk, you are wrong, because you misunderstood the concept.

This is not really an “armored train”, but more of a giant caterpillar. The junction between the bits is not just an articulation, but a lot of hydraulic devices, that would have allowed the first bit to maintain alignement with 2nd and 3rd bit while crossing the trench. Doing so, the first part wouldn’t fall in.

It’s almost the same concept with bandvagn and UDES xx20, except they are done with only 2 segments and not 3.