Company of Heroes: Eastern Front

Other discussions (Read-Only) => Eastern Front => Topic started by: pariah on May 02, 2011, 10:58:58 PM

Title: Sticky bombs.
Post by: pariah on May 02, 2011, 10:58:58 PM
We all know how they work in Company Of Heroes, but how did they work in real life? apparently they were improvised anti-tank weapons coated with a sticky substance designed to take out the wheels and treads. What was it they were coated in? And what was the explosive used? And how did they not stick to the soldiers hand?
Title: Re: Sticky bombs.
Post by: Max 'DonXavi' von B. on May 02, 2011, 11:06:52 PM
Most likely they were magnetic. Doyou know the Zimmerit thing painted on late-war Panzers of the Germans? It's an anti magnetic paint. So obviously, explosives with a strong magnet, thrown at a target of metal will stick to it. ;)
Title: Re: Sticky bombs.
Post by: pariah on May 02, 2011, 11:12:58 PM
Oh yeah, i had heard of the anti-magnetic paint. I thought it was just to stop the enemy from attacking them with fridge magnets.
Title: Re: Sticky bombs.
Post by: Sovereign on May 02, 2011, 11:23:20 PM
Yeah Zimmert was effective in that one regard (aside from the fact that it just looks dare I say "awesome")

Ironically must bombs used by infantry weren't even of the magnetic make, for ex US soldiers for the most part just used good ol' satchel charges and 'pineapples'..   
Title: Re: Sticky bombs.
Post by: Paladin88 on May 03, 2011, 04:34:24 AM
Watch the series "Dad's army"  :P
Seriously, sticky bombs weren't actually used that much... 'cept in the pacific. There were stories that the humidity actually stopped them from sticking to the tanks... (like in COH where stick bombs miss their targets or ""bounce off"!)
Title: Re: Sticky bombs.
Post by: RedGuard on May 03, 2011, 06:33:46 AM
watch saving private ryan

they worked like that, except they werent radar guided like the ones in COH
Title: Re: Sticky bombs.
Post by: SnappingTurtle on May 05, 2011, 07:57:41 PM
"Take a standard issue GI sock, fill it with as much Comp B as it can hold and coat it in axle grease..."

Zimmerit didn't actually have any anti-magnetic properties. The coating was ridged which made magnets fail due to lack of surface area in contact. AFAIK, only the Germans used magnetic anti-tank bombs to a significant extent anyway.
Title: Re: Sticky bombs.
Post by: pariah on May 05, 2011, 08:05:17 PM
Hmm... You know i always wondered what he meant by "Composition B is in."... :-\
Title: Re: Sticky bombs.
Post by: Ruddersmarine on May 05, 2011, 09:10:56 PM
The majority of actual sticky (using an adhesive substance) bombs had to be stuck on the tank at short range (Saving private Ryan actually got something right for once!!!). Many British Home Guard soldiers were killed when they tried to throw the sticky bombs on practice ranges and the bomb fell of the stick and exploded at their feet, nasty way to go.....
Title: Re: Sticky bombs.
Post by: pariah on May 05, 2011, 09:15:53 PM
What exactly is the point of using live explosives for practice?! Waste of resources...
Title: Re: Sticky bombs.
Post by: Dann88 on May 06, 2011, 12:06:36 PM
Pariah got the point here, the NCO must be very stupid to let soldier use live explosive for training such that, throwing sticky bomb never easy like nade at all. Why dont Sticky potatoes like CoD 2 :P
Title: Re: Sticky bombs.
Post by: Tankbuster on July 04, 2011, 10:39:33 AM
Were they effective against Tanks?
Title: Re: Sticky bombs.
Post by: RedGuard on July 04, 2011, 11:09:22 AM
I dont think so, I think hollywood glorified the sticky bomb. seriously imagine their practicality in a battlefield atmosphere I'd much rather be behind an AT gun or a bazooka

and dont forget americans had those things that fly in the air and knock out panzers left and right
the german tank crews said the most feared anti armor weapon in the american arsenal was the airplane
Title: Re: Sticky bombs.
Post by: neosdark on July 04, 2011, 05:19:13 PM
The tube sock with Comp B in it.... Yeah it didn't work particularly well, mainly because most people blew themselves up with it (just like in Shaving Private Ryan)

Comp B is a mixture of TNT and RDX explosives, about 40/60 ratio respectively. Its a powerful explosive that is still used by some NATO suppliers to this day, but its not quite as handling friendly as C4 (Composition 4 or Composition C). It wasn't particularly effective because it lacked punch against armor, and when it was used effectively and never caused much damage except perhaps to the treads, which only made the crew angrier and want kill you more.

They were often used in conjunction with flanking attacks, were one (often suicidal) soldier ran up to the tank and placed it on the tread while the guys with Bazookas used the opportunity to sneak up behind a tank and then blow it up with a fine engine shot
Title: Re: Sticky bombs.
Post by: pariah on July 04, 2011, 06:25:39 PM
I would think sticky bombs would be marginally effective at taking out the treads/wheels. And without mobility, it's a sitting duck for proper anti-tank.
Title: Re: Sticky bombs.
Post by: neosdark on July 04, 2011, 09:46:11 PM
If most American soldiers were taught how to effectivly use it then perhaps, but most weren't and those that did usually died. You can't forget what the background of most G.I.s was. Most were not well educated (except the NCOs and Officers) and understood one thing, fighting for freedom. Anyway most people who used this "weapon" died because it exploded in their faces after it was set in the track and wheels or thrown under the treads
Title: Re: Sticky bombs.
Post by: Seeme on July 04, 2011, 11:15:20 PM
Or they were simply stuiped and lite the Explosive itself ;D
Title: Re: Sticky bombs.
Post by: neosdark on July 04, 2011, 11:32:56 PM
Or that ::)
Title: Re: Sticky bombs.
Post by: RedGuard on July 05, 2011, 06:23:09 AM
or since the explosive was field made and not standardized, the fuses were random burn times and they didnt know and went boom :o

either way kinda counter productive and unnescessary

in soviet russia sticky bomb you
Title: Re: Sticky bombs.
Post by: Dann88 on July 05, 2011, 09:05:56 AM
LoL, in soviet russia potatoes throw you :D
Title: Re: Sticky bombs.
Post by: Paladin88 on July 05, 2011, 02:03:13 PM
Ha ha, Stick it to them!
Title: Re: Sticky bombs.
Post by: Sidewinder on July 06, 2011, 01:40:53 AM
(just like in Shaving Private Ryan)

You mean Shaving Ryan's Privates?

As for the sticky grenade... What a waste.
Title: Re: Sticky bombs.
Post by: neosdark on July 06, 2011, 05:11:32 AM
No my nickname for Saving Private Ryan is "Shaving Private Ryan" not what you said ::)
Title: Re: Sticky bombs.
Post by: Tankbuster on July 06, 2011, 07:11:05 AM
*typical RA3 conscript lights an improvised AT weapon*
What I do with this
*boom*
Title: Re: Sticky bombs.
Post by: RedGuard on July 06, 2011, 05:47:27 PM
haha ra3 that was a fun game, i wish it wasnt as arcade but i guess thats what the ra3 series is all about
Title: Re: Sticky bombs.
Post by: Tankbuster on July 18, 2011, 06:15:19 AM
Were the sticky bombs as effective against light vehicles as they were against tanks? Stickies were used to blow tank treads but were they effective against wheeled vehicles like the Puma.
Title: Re: Sticky bombs.
Post by: pariah on July 18, 2011, 07:57:39 PM
I assume if the bombs can take out treads, they can take out tires. Not sure how hard it would be though compared to the already suicidal stickying of tanks.