Summary (TL;DR)
The Soviet Union trained anti-tank dogs from 1930 to 1946, strapping explosives to them to destroy German tanks in WWII. Initially dogs were meant to drop bombs and retreat, but failures led to impact-detonation that killed them. Training flaws included using stationary diesel tanks instead of moving gasoline-engine German tanks, causing dogs to avoid enemy tanks. Out of 40,000 dogs deployed, only about 300 tank kills are claimed, but many dogs returned to Soviet trenches causing casualties. The program declined after 1942, replaced by mine-seeking dogs.
Public access expired
Save this link to your readplace queue and read every link without expiration.
Save to My Queue