22 December 2010

Panzer Proposals

E Series
In mid-1943 a programme for the development of a completely new series of AFV's was initiated by the German Weapons Department. The principal intention was to draw upon the potential of those firms in the automobile industry who were not yet engaged in AFV production. The vehicles were to be standardised within the shortest possible time and were to be capable of being used in a variety of rules with a maximum commonality of component parts.

The following types were planned: 

E-5 A light vehicle in the 5-ton class, intended to serve as a light armoured personnel carrier, small tank, radio-controlled tank or recce tank.

E-10 In the 10-ton class, intended as a personnel carrier, light tank destroyer or weapons carrier.

http://ww2drawings.jexiste.fr/Files/1-Vehicles/Axis/1-Germany/04-Panzerjaegers/E-Serien/E-10.htm

E-25 In the 25-ton class intended as a reconnaissance tank, medium tank destroyer or heavy weapon carrier. Development contracts went to Argus, though there was aPorsche design for a vehicle of this class.

http://ww2drawings.jexiste.fr/Files/1-Vehicles/Axis/1-Germany/04-Panzerjaegers/E-Serien/E-25.htm

E-50 In the 50 to 65-ton class as a light battle tank intended eventually to replace the Panther. Development contracts went to Adler, Argus and Auto-Union



http://ww2drawings.jexiste.fr/Files/1-Vehicles/Axis/1-Germany/03-sPanzers/E-50/E-50.htm

E-75 In the 75 to 80-ton class this was a medium battle tank intended as a Tiger replacement. The development contract went to Adler. The E-50 and E-75 were to be equipped with the Maybach H 234 engine producing 1200hp at 3000rpm, and the Makrudo mechanical/hydrolic two-speed clutch steering gear. In appearance and size they were similar but the E-75 was to be more heavily armoured


http://ww2drawings.jexiste.fr/Files/1-Vehicles/Axis/1-Germany/03-sPanzers/E-75/E-75.htm

E-100 In the 140-ton class this was to be the heaviest tank. Development was undertaken by Adler and a hull with suspension was produced, but it was scrapped in late 44.


RATTE
The Landkreuzer P.1000 "Ratte" ("Rat") was a super-heavy tank designed by Krupp in 1942. Hitler gave the project his blessing and the program set about to create the most powerful tank ever devised. It was an ambitious undertaking to say the least and - should it have been built - would also have become the largest tank ever produced. Albert Speer, the German Minister of Armaments and War Production for the Third Reich, saw the fruitlessness of such an endeavor and cancelled the P.1000 in early 1943. As such, the Ratte never made it off of the drawing boards.

Dimensions:
Overall Length: 114.83ft (35.00m)   Width: 45.93ft (14.00m)   Height: 36.09ft (11.00m)
Crew 20
Weight: 1,000.0 Tons 
Armour:     Maximum: 360 mm - Minimum: 150 mm Armament Suite:
PRIMARY:           2 x 280mm 54.5 SK C/34 naval guns
SECONDARY:    1 x 128mm KwK 44 L/55 anti-tank gun
                             8 x 20mm Flak 38 anti-aircraft cannons
                             2 x 15mm Mauser MG 151/15 autocannons

 

Engine(s): 8 x Daimler-Benz MB501 20-cylinder marine engines developing 16,000 horsepower OR 4 x MAN V12732/44 24-cylinder marine diesel engines developing 17,000 horsepower.
Maximum Speed: 25mph (40 km/h)Systems:



Obviously all of these were abandoned in the late war era, but what could have been by 1949....

Since researching this, I've found that Agis Neugebauer has done an amazing job writing his own wargaming supplmene tup for these Panzer Prototypes here:
http://www.adpublishing.de/html/panzer_prototypes.html

More here at these sites:
http://fingolfen.tripod.com/eseries/eseries.html
http://henk.fox3000.com/maus.htm
http://www.ww2incolor.com/forum/showthread.php?3292-Panzer-projects-amp-prototypes
http://ww2drawings.jexiste.fr/index.htm

4 comments:

  1. Now all we need are some 10mm scale Landkreuzer P.1000 "Ratte", or 15mm if that is your poison, for the wargames table.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Why muck about with teeny-tiny tanks?
    I want one in 28mm!!! :-)

    ReplyDelete