Anti-tank obstacle , Ypres 1940.

Owen · 31-03-2008, 10:18 AM

Just got my copy of "BELGIUM The Official Account Of What Happened 1939-1940."
On one of the maps it shows an improvised anti-tank obstacle. Railway trucks on the Ypres-Roulers railway.
Dave, have you heard of that before?
Take it they didn't actually hold any tanks up with them?

Owen · 01-04-2008, 08:05 AM

Quote:

May 26th-During the night of the 25th-26th and the day of the 26th, 2,000 wagons were brought up and placed end to end to form an anti-tank barrier on the railway line from Roulers to Ypres.

Anyone heard anything more on this?
Rich, any photos in some of your Belgium Histories?

arneken · 01-04-2008, 02:29 PM

Well I read somewhere it didn't helped much about the tanks. I don't even think they were defended 'cause the Belgium Army retreated before the germans reached the place.

Not sure,really

Arne

CROONAERT · 02-04-2008, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Owen D

Dave, have you heard of that before?
Take it they didn't actually hold any tanks up with them?

I had, actually, yes (sorry!) - They were also on the Ypres -Comines railway too.(The war diaries of the units holding the railway/canal line (south) all mention them.)

They actually did deter tanks in the area south of Ypres as most attacks here didn't involve armour (of the tankie type) - possibly because of this.

Dave.

Paul Reed · 02-04-2008, 10:47 AM

Very interesting thread - any photos of this?

Gotthard Heinrici · 02-04-2008, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CROONAERT

They actually did deter tanks in the area south of Ypres as most attacks here didn't involve armour (of the tankie type) - possibly because of this.

Dave.

To be fair, it wouldnt take much to stop a Mark II Tank anyway!

Would be interesting to see photos of this

Rich Payne · 02-04-2008, 06:41 PM

I do have some photos of defended positions behind goods wagons at Passendale. I'll get them scanned later. One interesting picture shows them after a breech had been made.

I can imagine that a row of rolling stock would hold up armour until the Engineers could get forward to deal with it and perhaps bring them into range. Not much of an obstacle against determined infantry though.

I have a note that the Belgian 31ste Linie lost 67 men there and the 43ste Linie 41 dead, so it was certainly defended.

Owen · 02-04-2008, 06:42 PM

Quote:

I do have some photos

Somehow I knew you would.

Look forward to seeing them, Rich.

Warlord · 02-04-2008, 06:49 PM

Couldn´t an armored train have been used to supplement the trucks? Or were they placed on bare ground out of a railway? The map doesn´t show one.

Very interesting stuff.

Owen · 02-04-2008, 06:57 PM

I don't think the Belgians had an armoured train in their inventory.
The trucks were definately on the railway tracks, it was a desperate measure for desperate times.

31-03-2008, 10:18 AM	#1 (permalink)
Owen Top Moose Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Under the stairs Posts: 9,057	Anti-tank obstacle , Ypres 1940. Just got my copy of "BELGIUM The Official Account Of What Happened 1939-1940." On one of the maps it shows an improvised anti-tank obstacle. Railway trucks on the Ypres-Roulers railway. Dave, have you heard of that before? Take it they didn't actually hold any tanks up with them?

01-04-2008, 02:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
arneken Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: wevelgem (belgium) (flanders) Posts: 45	Well I read somewhere it didn't helped much about the tanks. I don't even think they were defended 'cause the Belgium Army retreated before the germans reached the place. Not sure,really Arne __________________ Flanders

02-04-2008, 10:47 AM	#5 (permalink)
Paul Reed Ubique Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: UK/France Posts: 3,134	Very interesting thread - any photos of this? __________________ The WW2 Society: Remembering those from Britain & The Commonwealth who served 1939-45 - http://www.battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/ww2_society.htm

02-04-2008, 06:49 PM	#9 (permalink)
Warlord Veteran wannabe Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: The Land of Eternal Spring Posts: 247	Couldn´t an armored train have been used to supplement the trucks? Or were they placed on bare ground out of a railway? The map doesn´t show one. Very interesting stuff. __________________ If I go forward, follow me; if I stop, hurry me; if I retreat, kill me. Guatemalan special forces motto Picture shows an Israeli Avia downing an Egyptian Spitfire in ´48. Guatemala gave the deciding vote at the UN that year for Israel to become a nation. Last edited by Warlord; 02-04-2008 at 06:49 PM. Reason: Missed a phrase

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02-04-2008, 06:41 PM	#7 (permalink)
Rich Payne Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 646	I do have some photos of defended positions behind goods wagons at Passendale. I'll get them scanned later. One interesting picture shows them after a breech had been made. I can imagine that a row of rolling stock would hold up armour until the Engineers could get forward to deal with it and perhaps bring them into range. Not much of an obstacle against determined infantry though. I have a note that the Belgian 31ste Linie lost 67 men there and the 43ste Linie 41 dead, so it was certainly defended.

02-04-2008, 06:57 PM	#10 (permalink)
Owen Top Moose Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Under the stairs Posts: 9,057	I don't think the Belgians had an armoured train in their inventory. The trucks were definately on the railway tracks, it was a desperate measure for desperate times.

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