What follows is a brief history of how the various nations dealt with mines in World War Two.
This contraption is a Soviet T-28 tank, a terribly obsolete multi-turreted tank notable only for how many the USSR had in their possession when the war got started. As they were phased out for more effective vehicles, the T-28's were used as test beds for all sorts of things, one of which was this mine roller system. The concept is simple- armored steel wheels press down just ahead of the tracks, detonating any mines ahead of the tank, instead of under it where they could damage the vehicle. A simple, but effective solution.
The United States did not settle for small things. This machine, officially the T1E3M1 "Aunt Jemima" mine clearing vehicle was designed to clear entire roadways at once- rolling it's comically oversized drums down the road to clear it of mines and other obstacles. It was based on the reliable Sherman tank, which would be the foundation for many more systems of mine flails and spades throughout the war, though the comically oversized "Aunt Jemima" is the most memorable.
Then we have Germany...
This crazy thing is the Alkett VsKfz 617 Minenräumer, roughly translating to "minesweeper" in German was a prototypical machine that rather than passively explode mines with attachments, would simply run them over with it's monstrous rolling track wheels. The sole survivor is at Kubinka, but the museum's photos don't really do this thing justice, so here's some scale models of what it would have looked like in action...
To put it lightly, this didn't work too well, and production ceased as the Germans were put on the retreat back to Germany. It is presumed that the vehicle would have been a mechanical nightmare to maintain, and fighting in it against an enemy would have been a terrible chore, so it's good fortune for the Germans their insane leadership didn't actually follow through with this one.
More added as I find them! Feel free to post your finds below too!
