Panzerwrecks 6 P66 – Flammpanzer 38

Recently we were contacted by Eelke Warrink of the Netherlands with some extra information about the label next to the driver’s visors of the Flammpanzer 38.”I recently bought Panzerwrecks 6, and was intrigued by the Flammpanzer interior shot showing a warning placard, on page 66. In the caption, you give the interpretation ‘… teile der Tragfedernbefestigung durch Nachschlagen auf festen Sitz kontrollieren! Lassen sich die Ketten nachschlagen, Kettenden wieder auf…lagen (or auftragen?)!’

This doesn’t really make sense. If the warning is about the Tragfedernbefestigung (attachment of the suspension springs), then why should the driver check the track pins? In the text, the word interpreted as ‘Ketten’ clearly ends in an ‘e’, so the plural Ketten (‘tracks’) is out of the question. My interpretation may offer a better solution:

‘(first words totally illegible)… Spannkeile der Tragfedernbefestigung durch Nachschlagen auf festen Sitz kontrollieren! Lassen sich die Keile nachschlagen, Keilenden wieder aufbiegen!’

This would translate to: ‘Make sure the tensioning wedges (Spannkeile) of the suspension springs are firmly in position by striking them (with a hammer). If the wedges can be hammered inward, bend the ends of the wegdes upwards again.’A Jagdpanzer 38’s suspension springs are kept in place with a small wedge on top of them, of which the ends were often bent upward (very noticeable on the Aberdeen vehicle), which would fit the text on the placard. These wedges are relatively easy to reach between the wheels

My 2 cents!

Thanks Eelke