Krupp Räumer S - German Army's 130-ton Minesweeper Monster (’40 - ‘44)

[@foreverpinkf.7603]

Never heard of this thing. Thank you for sharing.

[@renegadeflyer2]

The very heavy mine sweeper would get stuck in a soft muddy field or wet hill side . something that shouldn't have gotten any farther then the the first drawing .

[@vikingbraid7515]

The cab on this mine sweeper looks like the cab of the AT-AT walker from Star Wars (The Empire Strikes Back).🤔

[@timokuusela5794]

As mentioned, a wheeled 130 ton machine would be stuck instantly. Everyone who has compared otherwise similar excavators, wheeled and with tracks, knows how laughably easily a wheeled one sinks to the soft ground and is well and truly stuck. A ground ok for a tank would be like like swamp to a wheeled machine.

[@mathewritchie]

Looking at this and a flail tank I must say that Hobarts funnies were far more practical.

[@wwiewolle5849]

The Germans were way ahead of their time in many ways during the war - but this thing was definitely not one of them! 🤦‍♂

[@Lappmogel]

Yeah these are some looney toons way of clearing a minefield.

[@delinquenter]

At least you give us the credit, we deserve. Still kinda easy, to say that in hindsight.

[@JohnOsborn-gj6dn]

Built in 1944, Germany would've have been laying land mines then, not clearing them.

[@kirgan1000]

But think about it, they need it 1943 after the Kursk experience of all the mines, and start a experimental project to clear mine, even if the project doesn't look promising, it worth to make a small investment in it, to see if it can be a superior to conventional de-mining methods, but the fortune of war change, and the project get lower priority, but a prototype is still built, but abandon, then its clear that conventional de-mining methods will be superior.

[@nkristianschmidt]

James Cameron had it for a while in the 1980s.

[@FlyTyer1948]

Also good for clearing weeds before planting seeds in your field.

[@tech42long35]

Amazing information and video and photos.. this was unknown to me completely. However there must be hundreds of ideas that made it to prototype stage. Really awesome production.

[@TallDude73]

Just like the Maus - impractical monstrosities.

[@polarvortex3294]

Arguably this was even more insane than the Maus, considering that by '44 the Germans were mostly on defense and thus not likely to be breaching many enemy minefields. Can't say the Germans lacked imagination, though; and their various cats, impractical monstrosities and "wonder weapons" may have helped to cement in the minds of the world the idea that the Germans are a high tech society, with, as the ShamWow guy used to say, "good stuff," thereby helping to set the stage for their remarkable post-war economic recovery.

[@stefanhammerschmidt2807]

@@polarvortex3294 Nun, Erfinden ist immer „Trial and Error“, da bildeten auch „wir Deutschen“ keine Ausnahme. Und 1944 sah‘s sowieso schon übel aus für „uns“, keine Frage. (die „&“ deshalb, weil ich mich nicht mit der deutschen Politik der damaligen Zeit identifizieren will ! ) Freundliche Grüße 😊

[@delinquenter]

But cool AF and makes you impressed by the country's prowess and engineering.

[@Dragonbear13-k2r]

I remember seeing pictures of this thing decades ago, (I don’t recall where or when) but no documentation of it. I figured it had to be rare as hen’s teeth because it has so little showing in the movies and history books. Since they only made one and it got lost, I guess that explains that!

[@PeterRumanRumo]

made a good space lego-set though

[@emafink3018]

true

[@ptonpc]

It looks impressive until you start thinking about it. Very nice video.

[@higgs923]

Thank you for documenting this absurd vehicle. Had this gone into production it would have broken down quicker than a Tiger tank.

[@itowmyhome797]

Thank you

[@redtobertshateshandles]

The Russians just ignored the minefields or sent punishment details through. They figured that shelling would cause casualties whilst halted by the minefields.

[@tetra4411]

Star Wars the Movie, first 70’s version. Walker.

[@polarvortex3294]

I thought it looked vaguely familiar.

[@delinquenter]

Kinda, honestly.

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

Meanwhile in Canada the Snake and in the UK Conger had been developed to defeat minefields. The Giant Viper, a post-war development of the Conger, gave good service the 1st Gulf War.

[@displacedyankee7819]

How would they even movie it to the front?? Two big trailers?

[@bobbressi5414]

Germany had a tendency to over complicate everything. Particularly in the early part of the war.

[@alan-sk7ky]

Especially where Krupps or the fantasist Porsche were concerned.

[@delinquenter]

Silly americans call it "overcomplicated" - We Germans call it being "visionaries". You cannot re-invent the wheel without cracking a few eggs.

[@bobbressi5414]

@@delinquenter I read an article once about artillery in the early days of the war. It turns out, both Germany and the Allies were using versions of the 105 mm Howitzer artillery piece. But the German one had more parts and was suppsedly an upgraded version of the gun. It also broke down far more often, was harder to repair and needed more personnel to keep operational. But range and accuracy were no better than the allied guns. I think far too often "complicated" is considered , "better". Sometimes it can be, but often, it isn't.

[@delinquenter]

@@bobbressi5414 Careful with the sources, buddy. Although you bring up a good point, who's to say they haven't been intentionally written to fit the narrative that Germany wasn't as far ahead, as they really were? Afterall, were the allies REALLY gonna admit that back then, if they still have a hard time doing it now?

[@delinquenter]

​@@bobbressi5414 We don't make things different, just for the sake of it. We do it, because it allowed us to be the first nation with jet-powered fighter planes in 1945, while everyone else was technologically decades behind and used propeller planes. THAT is the fact of the matter.

[@donxz2555]

Great pictures of BRITISH tanks with flails in action - whereas the German version were prototypes

[@raywest3834]

Is it possible that the Germans were unaware of the flail minesweeper used by the allies? It's curious that so inferior a device should be considered.

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

No, it had been used in a North Africa. Look up the Mathilda Scorpion.

[@stephengrant6316]

With more power, and a much better transmission, it could serve as a cross country vehicle in extremely rugged country. Off world rover?

[@zackzittel7683]

With no suspension, pneumatic tires, and sitting extremely low on the axel?

[@oBseSsIoNPC]

Boy oh boy. As German I am quite embarrassed by this idea of a whole new machine for mine sweeping. The Americans definitely had the edge as they simply focused on the physics that matter and not only that. They actually didn't make a whole other heavy machine, but an attachment that could just be left on a tank or discarded, but it serves as extra armor. So you have a tank that defends itself, a mine sweeper that's efficient, because chains are cheap and they just blow out of the way of the otherwise destructive explosion and the extra armor. Now THATS efficient. You also don't need extra crew, but the tank operators... Just shows how lucky the Germans were to get as far as they did.

[@alpinwolf1752]

"Thyssen-Krupp-Husten" ist das nächste Video....?!😊

[@dts5376]

Stop this music!!!!

[@JetBirdZ]

Nice video. It gave me the idea of a mine clearer that has two huge, dense fist type hammers that punch the ground in front of machine , left right left, like a big double hammer forge. The fists if big enough would absorb the forces , the blast helping to reset the hammers . 🤔

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

Or better still, the Conger, provided it didn't go bang before being launched.

[@GAD00SH]

Saw those on pink Floyd's the wall! 😅

[@vo1non]

As usual, over engineered and complicated.

[@polarvortex3294]

Eastern Front conscription officer to engineer: "Say Rudolf, are you done with your minesweeper yet?" Engineer: "Almost done Herr Konscriptkönnenflugelmeister... Just need a month or two more... Then think of the lives we'll save!" Eastern Front conscription officer: "You said the same thing all last year! Something tells me that the life you're most interesting in saving has an advanced degree from Heidelberg, and his name begins with an 'R'!" Engineer: "Maybe... But tell me, my friend, what of your life? When you've finally fulfilled your conscription allotment and us engineers all don a battle helmet, what will become of you? And where will you be sent? Perhaps you will need some new mittens as much as us pencil pushers?" Eastern Front conscription officer: "Yes, winter is coming... That's a bad time to lay mines, but, I see now that in the spring they will be used in abundance -- by our enemies, of course, as we counter-attack -- for the Fuhrer has assured us of victory in the end, and it is wrong to question him. Please forgive my interruption of your important work!"

[@delinquenter]

Silly tommies call it "overcomplicated" - We Germans call it being "visionaries".

[@rolandwendt7818]

Sieht aus wie aus einer anderen Welt, oder gebaut für eine andere Welt 🤔

[@jazzyjaytee9961]

How the US Army (being an expert logistics company) can lose track of 130 tons of steel is nothing new, yet still just baffling me. Probably "lost", i.e. misappropriated and sold off for scrap metal?

[@andrewdowns3403]

And where is it now ?

[@Dragonbear13-k2r]

Like the man said, it got lost.

[@IgorSevcov]

🤝🎥👍

[@PanzerBuyer]

Big loss. Same with the e100. They both should be on display at the Bovington Tank Museum.

[@JTA1961]

Twaz gonna make a rude comment about the krouts...but...neverMINE

[@MBKindell]

Over engineered. To a fault. Allies put flails on existing tanks... Germany built a Star Wars vehicle. That's a microcosm for many of the problems for the Germans in the war.

[@sjoormen1]

Dumbest project I ever saw. Thanks.

[@delinquenter]

Haters gonna hate.

[@sjoormen1]

@@delinquenter how is over weight overseized underperforming veicle good idea? And wheelbased at that. Even germans didn't belive it would work. And they were in need ... and they were somewhat insane aswell.

[@delinquenter]

@@sjoormen1 You never know, unless you try. We're just visionaries. Nobody thought trying to fly was a good idea either and look who invented the plane.

[@sjoormen1]

@@delinquenter Well not really, they did understood problems with offroading and problems with heavy machinery in soft terrain quite well. Even germans.

[@JohnSmith-oh9ux]

Thnx, but 480p in 2025? C'mon dude...

[@xhelfix3802]

great video, Thanks for making! In 1:16 it can look and move that way: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZuai3mMocetjKc Build by an friend.

[@tedhardiman5438]

Y...E...S...!!!

[@alan-sk7ky]

In typical Krupp fashion something 'heroic' and large/complex (did that optimistic dreamer Porsche have a finger in this?) was produced, copy allied flails and roller ploughs oh can't do that, 'the poor old man' won't have it. 130 tons on wheels stuck in the mud, yeah right. Besides it occurs to me this is a machine of advance not defence and retreat.

[@welshpete12]

Over thought , over designed , over weight !

[@botondtoth8263]

Looks like there's no such thing as too much material when sweeping mines (under enemy fire). So definitely not overweight. Moreover, it was able to be split in two quite simply.

[@mikebon8352]

Most common problem always: Over-designed... Which makes it useless.. Same as most German engineering products.

[@christianschellbruck9788]

It was only a Prototype

[@SiloSoundStudios]

I'm glad they kept wasting time and resources with stupid stuff like this.

[@railgap]

your fast-flash edits are super annoying, stopped watching

[@WolfeTone17-98]

I guess it would get bogged down

[@Rosnoseros]

looks like speilberg stole the crew compartment for his AT-AT's