Ever wonder what the differences are in Tank Tracks that Caterpillar Tracks?

A couple of picitures or M60A1's at Chiraco Summit, Ca
Drive Sprocket, tank tread and the front Idler and bogie wheels ( rollers on our cats)

CTS

Hi, CTS.
There are some other differences too. The track pads which ARE the chains that they have/had on the old style face shovels, draglines and track mounted mobile cranes were referred to as ' dead' track while the tracks on most crawler tractors and dozers where the track chain and the pad are separate is commonly referred to in the trade as 'live' track.

How-wevver, in military circles, I have heard that crawler/dozer track is termed 'dead' track and that most military style track is referred to as 'live' track 'coz it is 'ackshully' BUILT to retain some curving force around the sprockets and idlers by virtue of its construction, often with some form of rubber bushing or pads to help it maintain that curving force. This helps the track to survive the higher speeds that military tracks are often subjected to.

Most military tracks are also of somewhat lighter construction, again to help with being subjected to speeds, as the lighter links don't develop as much centrifugal force as they go around the sprockets and idlers.

Just my 0.02.

It's bad enough on some track type tractors with track shoes coming loose, can you imagine track shoes on a tank flying off at 40 mph????? Thats why they're on piece.

Deas,
Thank you,
I figured some would like to view the shots, see the differences.
Caterpillar Track was not made for speed - there was a farmer here in the Sac Valley that had the dealer take 3rd gear (block) out of Sixty's, tracks lasted much longer.
Yes - some of the crawler cranes were of that same type construction less the rubber.
Some of the WW 2 vintage P&H used AC track. If I could remember the model number of the P&H I was around as a kid - it used AC Model M track. Capacity of machine was rated at about 1/2 cu yd drag bucket, i think with about 30' of boom.
CTS

c'mon guys...you're kidding me...chains are not made for speed..
-isn't that what we have belts..
-and gearboxes

Hi, kittyman1.
Nope, NO kidding. What you read above is gospel, at least as I understand it. High speed tracks have lighter, shorter links and LOTTTTZZ more of 'em to reduce the 'throw' effect as the tracks run around the sprockets and idlers.

LOTTTZA people don't know that some models of the International Harvester TD14 had a top gear that gave them TEN miles per hour. I don't know if you can picture it in your imagination or not but they sure did throw a LOTTTTA dirt and dust around in that top cog.

Just my 0.02.