Power Winches Standardized on U.S. Army "Half-Tracs"
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THE half-track vehicles of the U.S.Army are intended to get through places that no other vehicles, except tanks, can negotiate. This means that they must traverse mud and water as well as cross the roughest terrain, not excluding trenches and shell-holes. However, there Is a type of -ground which is closely akin to quicksand, a surface so fluid that, even with traction-belt support, the vehicle will sink.
In order to provide for such conditions the latest " Ilalf-Tracs," as they are named, are equipped with sturdy winches, driven from the transmission. These are used not only to pull the machines out of difficult places, but also to give assistance to others, and for many other purposes.
Altogether this type offers a notably good performance over those marshy places which wheeled vehicles cannot -hope to navigate and where speed is not so great a factor as traction.
Apart from scouting and transport work, the Half-Tracs have been put on the job of hauling howitzers, and mortars have been mounted on them, as have 75-mm. cannons.
The winch is mounted on a stout frame on the front of the vehicle and in this handy location is easily made ready for action. The Half-True can be headed in the direction the winch is needed and it is never necessary to off load in order to use this equipment, as might be the case if it had a body location. With this addition the Half-Trac becomes a machine of exceptional utility.
Where military engineers have fast constructional work to do, it can readily be imagined that portable winches can play an important role. At the same time the IIalf-Tracs remain ready to fulfil all their original purposes.