If the American tanks had such a hard time traversing the Kall Trail, how is it possible for German vehicles to do the same thing-at all? German vehicles, especially after the beginning of the Russian campaign, grew to very large dimensions and had quite large tracks compared to US tanks. I decided to examine both the width of the Kall Trail and determine what German vehicles would fit and, more importantly, which wouldn't.

In the game Objective: Schmidt, both the German and American players may use the Kall Trail in a roughly similar fashion. Both do so with difficulty, but it is possible for both to do so. I contend that most German vehicles, because of their greater width, will have an even harder time crossing than the Americans--and they could barely make it.

Let's look at the facts. The Kall Trail is a narrow path of anything between 4.00 to 2.75 meters wide, walled on one side with dirt and rock outcrops. The other side is a Very steep drop. In other words, it resembles a goat-path much more than a super- highway.

As vehicles attempt to negotiate this dubious route, a strong shearing force is applied to the 'up-hill' track as the 'down-hill' one attempts to slide into the valley below. The result is a terrain feature which literally pulls tracks off their drive wheels. This effect led to the loss of a number of the US tanks which tried to use the trail. Also, those tanks effectively blocked the route for others.

We all know that some of the M4s of A Company, 707th Tank Bn and some M10s of C Company, 893rd TD Bn made it. The width of these tanks is about 2.60 meters.

What of the German vehicles? The Panthers (Sdkfz 171, Mk V) were 3.27 meters wide without skirts, with them make that 3.42 meters. Panthers couldn't make it even with a German version of Sgt. Spooner! The Tiger Is (Sdkfz 181, Mk VI) without track-guards is 3.56 meters, with them 3.73 meters. Tiger Is can't make it. Mark IVs and Jgpz IVs without skirts are 2.88 m (with them 3.33 m) might make it with a hell of a tank jock, otherwise they can't. StuG Ills are 2.95 m wide without skirts, 3.41 m with them. I don't think they could make it. The German halftracks should be able to make it.

Conclusion:

German halftracks, only, may use the Kall Trail like Americans. Mk IVs and Jgpz IVs can but would have the die roll in 2.1c changed to 1: pass, 2-6 broken down.