Deep wading

Wading depth is the maximum water depth, drive through a land vehicle ( wade ) can. The term appears frequently in the technical specifications of off-road vehicles, specifically also military vehicles on.

Fording

Wading depth depends on many factors, including:

• Height of the air intake of the engine
• Height of the alternator and the ignition on the engine and water resistance of the electrical / electronic
• Amount of the aggregate vents of the vehicle ( axles, transmissions, etc.)
• Sealing of the vehicle ( interior ), etc.

Cars can usually drive through water depth of about 400 mm, depending on these points. SUVs are often equipped for greater depths, especially if they are equipped with a snorkel, which raises the air intake to the level of the vehicle roof. Even through the exhaust water penetration can cause damage. Therefore, especially watfähige vehicles are also equipped with a high-up exhaust. There are also check valves are used.

Fording waters

Places where water can be traversed by vehicles, ford called. Even with adequate fording capability, however, the crossing of waterways is often risky. This occurred both in open terrain, as well as at designated fords and flooded due to various dangers:

• In addition to a maximum depth to be explored the nature of the surface is unknown and rarely fully assessed. It may come to the sinking of the vessel or unrecognized obstacles and irregularities can lead to collisions and sticking.
• The flow may even at low velocities and shallow water wash away vehicles or move into areas in which they are no longer maneuver or where the fording depth is exceeded.
• The buoyancy reducing soil adhesion and thus the traction.
• Flotsam, is another source of danger

Wading depth and underwater driving

Military vehicles often have a fording depth of 0.5 to 1.5 meters. Some non-buoyant tank models, which can be equipped with snorkeling, are able also to drive through deeper waters, where the vehicle disappears partly or completely below the water surface. This is referred to as deep wading or at greater depths than underwater driving and requires preparation and some additional equipment to dive rescuers for the crew.

For driving through waters with a depth of about 2-4 m battle tanks have like the Leopard 2 or the Marder a so-called hydraulic submersible. It includes all loading and vents on the motor and opens a combustion air damper on the engine bulkhead in the tank inside ( combat area ). About this the engine sucks when wading, wading deep and underwater driving to the combustion air through the commander's hatch with fitted Tiefwat or underwater landing (Leopard 2). The tower is sealed by an inflatable seal to pan out. Bilge pumps remove water penetration to the outside.

During World War II dive tanks were on the German side developed (including conversions of 168 PzKpfw III and PzKpfw IV 42 ), who were able to go in water depths of up to 15 m. The air is supplied via a hose that hung on a buoy. They were originally suspended for the invasion of England off the coast of ships and then navigate to the ships, radio link and compass by observers. On the first day of the Russian campaign 80 this dive tanks were used. They crossed the River Bug 're all successful.