Panthers & wood pieces of flair?

[Engine95]

Does anyone have an idea why these Panthers would have wood slung on the upper glacis and turret sides? It seems to have been all the rage on Panthers in Italy around the time of Operation Shingle but I don't see it on Panthers anywhere else or time. I initially thought it was an up-armor tactic but I don't think it would make any noticeable difference on the glacis. And it really only covered a small portion of the front half of the turret sides. Camouflage maybe? But it really wouldn't do anything to break up the vehicle outlines. Branches with foliage as often seen in German armor in France would have been much more effective.

I have a I./Pz.Rgt. 4 diorama idea churning in my head and I'm considering adding the wood pieces of flair to one of the two Panthers that will be in the scene. But only if I can come up with a reasonable explanation why they did it. Help me out here gents!

[Stokesy44]

Left field idea but maybe for use if the tank gets bogged down?

Great pics anyway

[Timplastic]

yeah i would lean it more towards some sort of system to help the tanks over soft ground. But its tally that would have been more hard dusty ground for that time period. I can't imagine them coming across soft boggy ground or soft sand, so it still does make you wonder why. All that said i would go for soft ground un ditching

[Engine95]

Ah, that's a great point gents! All the lumber looks to be about track width. And it's my understanding that on February 16th the German efforts to push back against the beach head was significantly hampered by their inability to move armor through muddy conditions. If I remember I read one of the commanders wrote in his SITREP that they'd had 18 hours of rain.

Thank you gentlemen!

[digger303]

I would have thought though that those bits of wood wouldn't have been wide enough to spread the weight or even of sufficient length for the tank tracks.

[Engine95]

It looks pretty field expedient to me Digger. I'd guess it was whipped up in the rain and would give them just enough traction to get out of slogging mud. And probably didn't do a very good job at that.

I have a good friend that was the 69th Armor Regiment FSO. I'll ask him what he thinks.

[DoubleDigit12]

Perhaps they are in place to act against magnetic grenades in place of damaged zimmerit. Just an idea
If you want some experts advice I would advise asking on the missing lynx forum in the axis vehicle section, there are some real enthusiasts there that may be able to help you.

[Engine95]

Good plan James, I've referenced a few of their threads in the past but never created an account there. Thanks for reminding me about them!

[Timplastic]

The only troops to have magnetic mines was the Germans as I have always been told. Hence the reason they stoped applying zim .
18 hours of rain in dry dusty Italy would make a complete mess of the rural roads and those logs may have just helped a little when it got a little boggy.

[Engine95]

I've reached out to a couple of other sources I know for confirmation but I'm leaning toward that explanation as well. Out of curiosity, is Italy historically pretty dry during the early months of the year?

[Strohmann]

I think those Panthers were at Anzio. It rained a lot because it was in January and February.

[Engine95]

Yes, they're I./Pz.Rgt. 4 Panthers that departed from Châlons-en-Champagne by rail on 24 Jan. in response to the Allied landings at Anzio and Nettuno.