Anti-tank dog
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
Anti-tank dogs, also known as dog mines, are dogs with explosives harnessed to their back, trained to run under enemy tanks. When the dog was in position the explosives would be detonated.
The dogs were trained by Russians during World War II to be used against German tanks. Unfortunately, the Russians trained the dogs by placing food under their own tanks; consequently, in battle the dogs were as likely to run beneath a Russian tank as were to run under a German tank (the intended target). Also, the dogs were reluctant to run towards an active tank, and as such became a menace to everyone on the battlefield. In 1942, after the dogs forced an entire Russian tank division into retreat, the Russians withdrew the use of the dog mine.
The German army learned of the use of hundminen as anti-tank weapons, and Russian dogs were shot on sight under the pretence that they were likely to be rabid. Dogs became scarce in the Eastern Front as a result; making the use of dogs as a surprise weapon even more improbable.
After the war more efficient and easier methods became available, and it is unlikely that anti-tank dogs will ever be employed again.
References
- Pile, Stephen (1979) The Book of Heroic Failures, or the Official Handbook of the Not Terribly Good Club of Great Britain. Penguin Books.
- Dog Anti-Tank Mine (http://www.soviet-empire.com/arsenal/army/anti-tank/dog_mine.php), Soviet-Empire.com. Retrieved May 20, 2005.
ko:자폭견 nl:Anti-tankhond simple:Anti-tank dog sv:Anti-tank-hund
