- Yes
- No
I would like to suggest the 7,5 cm Selbstfahrlafette L/41 Modell 1
It would be a unique playstile for the german tree as it combines firepower with mobility at the lower ranks in for of a Mobile Light Tank Rank 3 Br 3.3. It carries a 7,5 cm Kanone L/41 which is a more powerful gun than the 7,5 cm Feldkanone 16 n.A. (Neuer Art). It would be similar in performance to the M3 GMC with the difference in having more armor, a turret and a sligly more powerful cannon.
In terms of History:
Specilized armored vehicles were sent to Libya for Rommel, long befor D-Day`s funnys. In response of the british heavy tanks.
The story of the vehicles itself begins in 1935, in a report of the Waffen Prüfamt (Wa Prw (?)) from the 30 October 1935 with the title of Offensive Abwehr von Panzerwagen (Offensive defense against tanks). On the 11 July 1935 at the demonstration at Kummersdorf the Oberkommando des Heeres emphasized that a offensive tank defense must be strived for. With the example that you dont use a heavy bomber against a heavy bomber, but a fast figher with the fitting armarment, the conclusion was that a fast and nimble vehicle with a powerfull gun was needed. The 2 main charactersitics was Speed and firepower. The third was armour, as long as it doesnt conflict with one of the first two or both.
The exact 8 points needet were:
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very high road speed to achive good operational mobility.
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good cross-country mobility, at least the same as tanks.
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cross-country speed and maneuverability greatly superior to a tank.
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small target area.
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good fireing platform for accurate shooting while stationary.
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weapons capable of target destruction at rangers of 700 meters up.
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cheap and quick mass production in comparison to tanks.
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if possibly achivable without interfering with the first seven requirements, rapidly dismountable weapon for the purpose of employment in the same way as towed anti-tank guns, as well as rapidly remountable.
The 7,5 cm K L/41 was choosen with the possibility to fight against heavy french tanks such as Char 2C, 3C and D, with capabilities greater than the 7,5 cm FK 16 n.A. (Feldkanone neuer Art) (which fired the K.Gr. Rot Pz at 650m/s.) (The name 7,5 cm K. L/40,8 was a early development name.)
With the 7,5 cm Sfl. L/41 Modell 1 was the first Prototype of the development (i dont know why the “main” Production type looks more like a step back, i suppose it was simpler design and as such more cheaper.
I think while the Pz.Sfl.II 7,5 cm K. L/41 should be a main TT Vehicle, this Modell 1 and the Modell 2 should be premium/Event vehicles, as they are eaqually effective, however also more “futuristic” looking, while also a tiny bit better. With the Model 1 featuring a structure with far more angles, more like the later Armored bodys of Halftracks, with a more angled turret structure and the gun doesnt have a Muzzle brake with the gun mantlet beeing taken over from the Long barrled Großtraktor testing. While improvements to the Model 2 are a muzzle brake, a new armored body, where the angle of plates was lowered and armored bins (as similar found on the Sd.Kfz.251 Ausf.D) are fixed on top. As well as a empty casing ejection chute was added to the back of the turret which is now more elongated, tho that also didnt go over to Main production. Slightly different roadwheels were also taken up.
Designed: 1936-1941
Manufacturer: Rheinmetall-Borsig
Number built: 1 or more.
Mass: 11 ton
Crew: 4
Armor: 5,5 - 20mm
Hull front 20mm/30°
Turret front 20mm (For the turret the Gun mantlet and the straigt plates are 20mm/50°to the back makeing it 30mm aquivalent and the half circle at the back is 14,5mm)
Hull and turret sides 14,5mm/10°
Hull rear 10mm
Hull roof 10,5mm
belly 5,5mm
Main armament: 1x 7,5 cm Kanone L/41
Traverse: 360° at 20°/sec
Vertical: -9° to +20°
Reload of 5 sec/shot, cince it is based on the FK 16 n.A. which had up to 12 rounds/min
Gun Specs:
Ammo Types: Apcbc, He, Smoke, Heat
Ap:
K. Gr. Rot Pz (Apcbc) 6,8 kg 80 g Fp.02 und Np.10 (102,4 g TnTa) 685m/s 118mm/10m
Gr. 38 Hl/C (Heat) 4,8 kg 515 g H.10 (875,5g TnTa) 450 m/s 115mm/10m
He:
Sprgr. 34 (He) 5,74 kg 725g Fp.02 und Np.10 (928g TnTa) 485 m/s
Utility:
K.Gr. Rot Nb (Smoke) 6,2 kg 95g Pent 485m/s
Gr. 38 HL/B Heat 4,57 kg 450 m/s 872,1 g tnt aquivalent 87mm/0°
Then there are some other rounds like Kartäschen (Canister shot) but they arent represented in game, the gun can use the same ammo like the 7,5 cm KwK 37 L/24, as it is a quiet early vehicle and not SO High velocity it probaply never got Pzgr 40 (but i dont know in the end.)
Engine:6-cylinder water cooled Maybach HL 45 150 hp
Maximum speed: 60 km/h
Source:
Bundesarchiv
Panzer Tracts: Rommels Funnies - Thomas L. Jentz
OKW: Vorschrift D 606/12, Mittlerer Zugkraftwagen 5t (Sd. Kfz. 6) -m. Zgkw. 5t (Sd. Kfz. 6)- Typ BN 9, Gerätebeschreibung und Bedienungsanweisung zum Fahrgestell und Aufbau. 1940.
OKW: Vorschrift D 606/13, Mittlerer Zugkraftwagen 5t (Sd. Kfz. 6) -m. Zgkw. 5t (Sd. Kfz. 6)- Typ BN 9b, Gerätebeschreibung und Bedienungsanweisung zum Fahrgestell und Aufbau. 1941.
OKW: Vorschrift D 606/14, Mittlerer Zugkraftwagen 5t (Sd. Kfz. 6) -m. Zgkw. 5t (Sd. Kfz. 6)- Typ BN 9b, Ersatzteilliste zum Fahrgestell. 1941.