Finally - Pirates of the Vistula
 

I always had a hard time imagining how the push tug concept worked and this picture explains a lot.

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps28777ec7.jpg

Now the idea of getting tanks up and down the river makes more sense. Thing looks like it could move a platoon of M1's without breaking a sweat!

This explains a lot about pre-modern war. Up until the American Civil War, most campaigns were directed on or near rivers. Much easier to move troops and especially supplies by water than by land. The American Civil War introduced the railroad, and WWI introduced the gasoline powered truck.

My $0.02

Mike

Very true. The Maori Wars in New Zealand largely ended because the British Army brought steam-powered gunboats across to New Zealand from Australia and used them to move men and supplies into the interior. The gunboats also helped protect other river-borne supply vessels.