502nd Heavy Panzer Battalion
Inspector Cenker
Shop Forman Neubert
............................................... Technical After Action Report..........................
I. Damage to the running gear
Flange Fasteners for the outer road wheels loosten themselves while moving. Result : Loss of the outer roadwheels .Severe wear on the road wheels ,Rubber surfaces ,and road wheel rims
Cause
a) The flange for attaching the outerroad whells is much to small .The fastening screws are to week and too shor. The threads on the screws are much to course
b) When the rubber outerlyer of the road wheel is damaged ,the road wheel rims jam on the track, bend the outeredge of the rim, and cannot be used any more
c) Too narrow mounting of the road wheels between the outer and inner ones , space of 10cm at the most
d) Bending of the second lifting arm from the front
e) Current lock-down devices insufficient .Great care most be taken in mounting the flanges
Remedy
for a) Make the fastening flange larger .Make the screws for them longer and furnish them with fine threading ; Only employ screws where lock nuts can be used
for b) When constructing the rubber outer layer on the road wheel ,it should be ensured that the first layer of rubber (Wire netteng) is kept even with the rims . By doing this it can be ensured that the road wheels continue to roll on the first rubber or wire netting when the top layer of rubber becomes detached result : the heavy wear on the road wheels and the rims can be avoided
for c) The too-narrow mounting of the road wheels did not hold up very well in the winter, with the result that heavy wear
on the rubber tyers has occurred .If the vehicle moves in very poor terrain with alot of rocks and ice ,the spaces between the wheels jam up with sand and stones to such a degree that lifting arms are often bend and torsion bars broken . It is requested (Suggested) that the spaces between the road wheels be kept somewhat greater
for d ) See c above
for e ) As lock-downs for the screws , use the halfmoon- shaped pice sheet metal designed for two screws which was recently delivered from Henschel; however both ends be made longer so that the lock-down clamps are higher. It must be ensured during installation that the support ring is kept clean (scratch away the paint )
II Track pins sliding out
Reason
Securing devices for the track pins are to weak ( Inner and outer)
Remedy
Deeper indentation and stronger securing devices at the insid end (Track side) ,do not weld the fasteners on but use screws for the track pins
III Loosening of the fastening screws (Cone shaped) on the drive sprocket
Remedy
Frequent tightening of the cone shaped screws in the field or securing them by boring through the heads of the screws and locking them with wire
Mounting of the running gear
Mounting and dismounting device for road wheels
The following spanners must be made stronger
52 mm
27mm
32mm
Devices for fixing the lifting arms in place when changing torsion bars are needed
IV Damage to the cooling system
Reason
Loss of coolant at the hose connectors .Poor hose connectors, connecting hoses and pipes to short
Remedy
SKF hose connector (Like Maybach)
Presently fastened with wire by the troops .Longer connecting hoses. Lips at the end of the pipes
Connecting pipe for the radiator water outlet from the motor to the right radiator
Reason
When opening and closing of the rear deak access hatch ,one of the latches presses against the connecting pipe
and pushes it down ,because of this the connecting pipe is twisted and the hose fastener loosened
Result :leakage and loss of radiator coolant
Remedy
Move the access hatch latch . at present troops are breaking off the far edge
V Damage to the fuel feeds lines
Leaky fuel tanks ,leaky connections from the upper tank to the lower tank
Remedy
Better installation ,check the soldering during installation pay special attention to the riveting of the reinforcement metal
Loss of fuel
Reason
Loosening of the membrane screws at the fuel pump.Bad seals on the sight indicators .Loosening of the lines to the fuel pump
Remedy
In general ,better tightening of all the screws and lines during installation at the plant .After longer road marches retightening in the field as well . lock down screws on the fuel lines
Fuel Feed to the carburetor
Reason
Material deforms
Remedy
Other material has been planned by Maybach
VI Damage to the motor (Carburetor fires )
Reason
a) When dismounting the air collection pipe ,all seals are damaged ( at present cork seals)
b) when the cork seals on the air collection pipe are damaged ,a gap is created and with it the possibility of backfiring flames escaping
c) Leaky flots. Result a change in fuel levels and overflowing of fuel
Remedy
for a) Use of special or not so easily damaged material or modification by the carburetor manufacturer
for b) This malfunction can be eliminated by better seals
for c) Thorough checking of the carburetor and flots by the manufacturer
VII Engine fires
Reason
a) Ignition of spilled oil (the result of poor outer crankshaft seals)
b) Poor seating of the lines leading to the fuel pump.result leakage of fuel
c) Poor seating of the screw cap to the oil fill funnel Result :leakage of oil
This overflowing oil drops onto the muffler .Oil also leaks when the seal is missing
Remedy
for a) Use of better crankshaft seals
for b) Tightening of all the fual lines and locking down nuts
for c) Tightening the fill cap screw with a wrench is not always possible during operations. For this reason ,it is suggested that a larger-sized wing nut be used insted of a sixsides screw .That would guarantee a good tightening even by hand .The seal in the filler cap screw should be mounted in such manner that its loss in the field is not possible.
It would be desirable if the driver had the opportunity while making a maintenance halt during an operation to check his oil level without opening the rear hatch
VIII Inadequate fire extinguishing system
Reason
The crew has been given no chance to extinguish a fire in the engine compartment without leaving the fighting compartment without leaving the fighting compartment whenever a fire starts
1.For inexplicable reasons ,the automatic fire extinguisher does not activate sometimes when there is a carburetor fire
2.After two or three uses of the automatic fire extinguisher ,it is empty and there is no opportunity for the troops in the field to refill or replace it
Remedy
It is suggested that an opening be installed in the firewall to the engine compartment so that the opportunity always exists of extinguishing the engine fire in the quickest manner possible without leaving the fighting compartment .Itis absolutely necessary to mount a large 5 ltr tetra carbon dioxide fire extinguisher in the fighting compartment so that any fire can be extinguished at any time
IX Transmission damage
Changing of the transfer devices ; specifically ,elongation of the wires (external).Result : Changing of the shifting pattern
wearing out of the acceleration brake (1st brake). Individual shifting cylinders displace on their own . Reinforcement and fastening of the individual actuation levers has been performed in such a faulty manner that ,to a large extent ,the preson pins and cotter pins of the individual bolts are missing .Because these parts are located behind the transmission housing ,cheaking them is impossible without dismantling the housing . Provide the line system in the transmission with better seals or tighten down better during assembly
Remedy
The much to large wear on the acceleration brake is caused by shifting to the 4th or 5th gear
It is suggested that sturdier material be usedby the production facility for this brake .
In manufacturing the transfer devices ,great attention must be paid to the wirs groups and assembly .In no case must easily malleable material be used . During the assembly and inspection of the transmissions by the manufacturer or the army acceptance office ,it must be ensured that all outside actuation levers and shafts are properly furnished with Preson pins and cotter pins . Because of these smal deficiencies ,vehicles have broken down . For the ajustment of the individual shafts hours of work are often necessary by the soldiers who who have to perform this work with out anytype of aids .Likewise ,it must be ensured by the manufacturer that the loosening of the oil pressure lines in the transmission as well as the displacement of shifting cylinders on their own is no possible
For the most part ,various deficiencies and disruptions in the shifting transmission could be avoided if the transmissions are not driven until they reach their proper operating temperature . This is frequently not possible .For this reason ,Measures must be taken so that the vehicles can be driven with out damage even when they have not reached operating temperature
