World War 2 In Review: German Beetle

Goliaths captured by British troops.

The Goliath tracked mine (German: Leichter Ladungsträger Goliath, "Goliath Light Charge Carrier") was a series of two unmanned ground vehicles used by the German Army as disposable demolition vehicles during World War II. These were the electrically powered Sd.Kfz. 302 and the petrol-engine powered Sd.Kfz. 303a and 303b. They were known as "beetle tanks" by the Allies.

They carried 60 or 100 kg (130 or 220 lb) of high explosives, depending on the model, and were intended to be used for multiple purposes, such as destroying tanks, disrupting dense infantry formations, and the demolition of buildings or bridges. Goliaths were single-use vehicles that were destroyed by the detonation of their warhead.

Effect of a Goliath on a building in Warsaw, August 1944.

Captured Goliaths being examined by American soldiers, France.

An American engineer with a DUKW examining an abandoned Goliath shortly after D-Day.

German soldiers with a Goliath and its transport trailer.

Goliath advancing towards a Soviet SU-85 self-propelled gun in a training manual photo.

Goliath being used as a “toy” by an American soldier.

German “doodle bug” (Goliath) in small covered beach revetment is examined by a Seabee and an engineer officer. It was operated by wires from a dugout in the road behind the anti-tank wall. St. Raphael, France. 16 August 1944.

Sgt. Lester Sacks, VI Corps Ordnance, looks at one of the motors of the ‘doodlebug’, a self-propelled miniature tank containing an explosive charge. The Germans have used this tank against our positions on the Anzio Beachhead. Contrary to popular belief this ‘doodlebug’ is not radio controlled. The tank has a large battery and two electric motors. The tank is controlled by means of the control wires paid out from the back of the tank. The enemy can make the tank move forward or turn. When tanks are in proper position explosive is set off. This tank was picked up by a company of the Special Service Force. It was carried back on a hospital stretcher. It was first discovered by a patrol from the same company, just 150 yds. from the enemy. Anzio beachhead, Italy. 11 April 1944.

Canadian soldier inspects a German self-propelled mine Goliath (Sd.Kfz. 303a) discovered in a revetment on the landing beach "Juno" during the invasion of Normandy, 6 June 1944.

Privates M. Voske and H. Browne of the Calgary Highlanders examining a captured German radio-controlled Goliath tracked mine, Goes, Netherlands, 30 October 1944.

Sd.Kfz. 302 Goliath (E-Motor).

Goliath.

Trailer for carrying the German Goliath Sd.Kfz. 302.

Disabled German remote controlled Goliaths being examined by 2nd Naval Beach Battalion personnel, Utah Beach, 6-7 June 1944.

A soldier examines a captured German Goliath radio-controlled tracked demolition vehicle, Italy, 12 April 1944.

Goliath.

An American soldier on a pile of discarded Goliaths. This demonstrates the vast numbers to which the remote-controlled bomb was produced.

German troops preparing "Goliath" for attack. Warsaw Uprising. 11 August 1944.

German troops on Piaskowa Street, preparing "Goliaths" for attack. Warsaw Uprising. 11 August 1944.

Warsaw Uprising: German troops on Piaskowa Street, prepare "Goliaths" for attack. View from Powązkowska street. 11 August 1944.

SdKfz 303 “Goliath,” Warsaw, 1944.

Squadron Leader T. F. Kyle driving a captured German robot beetle tank out of which the explosive charge has been removed and a seat installed. (Flight magazine, 10 Aug 1944)