Friday, July 13, 2018

No One Knows How To Raise Their Children

 
1977. East German ,,Pionierpanzer” operated by Young Pioneers (Jungpioniere), a suborganisation of the Ernst Thälmann Pioneer Organisation. Sections provided with these mini-tanks were effectively called ,,Panzerbrigade” (Armoured Brigade), which apparently operated under STASI supervision.

These ,,Pionierpanzer” were powered by a Trabant engine and had a top speed of 15 kph. The turrets couldn’t traverse. The crew was composed of 2 Jungpioniere. Different models were in production, resembling actual tanks: T-34-76, T-34-85. T-54, SU-100, and SU-122.

Sources are contradictory regarding the guns: some claim they could fire live ammunition, some that they could fire only blanks, others that “hits” were scored using a laser system, similar to nowaday’s Laser Tag.




 

6 comments:

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Yikes. Bet that warped a few young minds.

Cal's Canadian Cave of Coolness said...

Tank envy. Especially when they grow too tall and have to turn their little tank over to a younger kid and you are sent to the front line in Siberia to die for Mother Russia.

DrGoat said...

Yeah but I want one!!

Cal's Canadian Cave of Coolness said...

I know. NO WAY our folks would have gotten us such cool toys.

Green Eagle said...

Trabant engines. Well, at least we can rest assured that they won't make it more than a few miles before breaking down.

Cal's Canadian Cave of Coolness said...

Poor Soviet construction? I am shocked. SHOCKED!