Low Reliability Identification

[Plain Ian]

Useless comment: If you guys would game with Detroit vehicles, you wouldn't have to worry about low reliability. 

Somewhat less useless comment: This thread makes me want to re-read "Death Traps" by Belton Cooper, a vehicle maintenance officer in the U.S Third Armored Division.

I've never read the actual book but I have read numerous comments about it. Part of my comments abut breakdowns by nationality were based on this plus also anecdotal stories about late war German panzers being difficult to recover and maintain. 

My father was in the R.E.M.E. (Royal Electrical Mechanicle Engineers) during the war and he was based at Stirling Scotland. His job was to repair tanks brought back from the front. Thankfully they had been well fumigated by the time they arrived but he still had interesting stories of tanks with 90 degree barrels and ominous holes in them. 

Later on he was in a Light Aid Detachment attached directly to a reconnaissance unit the 17/21st Lancers in Italy. He drove a Scammell recovery vehicle. 

He was never in the front line. The nearest he came to danger was acting as guard for POW's in Graz Austria. Not entirely safe as there were guards killed during break outs.