- Yes
- No
I would like to suggest the Büssing A5P which was a WW1 Armored Car, that while relatively bad and discontinued after only 1 produced was relatively unique in reciving 1-2 (depending on the source) 20mm Becker M.II cannons with 1x Mg 08 or Mg 15 n.A. instead of just 3x Mg 08 or Mg 15 n.A like the 2 contendors. While it didnt go into production it was quite modern for its time, with 2 Driving wheels for forwards and backwards.
This vehicle would especially be a usefull light tank and relatively usable AA vehicle in a possible WW1-Interwar till 1939 mode.
Otherwise it is interesting to see the early development and tactical interest to have a mobile armored car with armarment above the standart MG armarment of the time, beeing able to even fight of early tanks, as well as effectively destroy enemy Armored cars and attack fortified light positions.
Tho after the Test fitting of the 1-2x 20mm Becker M.II, they came to the conclusion that the standart MGs with K-Geschoss was more effective generally speaking than the relatively low velocity (490m/s) 20mm Gun.
History:
Büssing Company was tasked in 1910 with producting aritllery tractors and supply trailers. In 11/1914 the german army became aware of the tactical potential of Hit-and-run tactics employed by the Belgians with the Minerva, it tasked 3 companies (Büssing, Ehrhardt and Daimler) with comming up of Armored Cars with the following requirements:
- An armament of three machine guns, one of them being a spare. Both guns should be able to fire simultaneously in any direction.
- Ammunition load-out of at least 16,500 rounds.
- A crew of eight: Commander, driver, and six machine gun operators (later changed to a crew of ten with two extra drivers).
- Completely armored, with a minimum thickness of 5.5 mm (excluding roof armor).
- A maximum weight of crew, armor, armament, and ammo combined of 2,500 kg (2 MG: 75 kg, ammo: 660 kg, crew: 600 kg, armor: 1000 kg).
- The possibility of driving forward and backward at the same speed, without turning the vehicle.
- A turnable driver seat in the middle of the vehicle (not required with a driver in the front and rear), closable observation slits for the driver, machine-gun operators should not be hindered by the driver.
- Four-wheel drive.
- As good off-road capabilities as possible, therefore one gear with short gearing and carry wheel belts and ramps.
- A maximum speed of 40-60 km/h (forwards and backward).
- An engine of at least 40 hp.
- Sufficient engine cooling, despite covering armor plating.
- Steel wheels (when possible disc wheels, not steel spoked wheels).
- Solid rubber tires with armored protection.
- On both front and rear, two Acetylene headlamps, one movable electric searchlight, and electric lighting in drivers cabin.
The vehicle of Büssing was delivered during 1915, in comparisson to the Belgian armored cars the Büssing A5P was a truly huge vehicle, with a mirrored / double ended layout with 2 drivers and a high clearance.
This huge vehicle was crewed by 10, 2x Drivers, 6 men for 3x Mgs, fireing out of the 12 Ports, 2 in each hull direction as well as 4 in the round Hull extention/casmate.
Overall the Ehrhardt designe was prefered and as such the Büssing A5P stayed a one off. Along its trails period it was tested to replace 1-2 Mgs with 20mm Becker M.II, tho it was discontinued as it was seen as less effective than just using the MGs with K-Geschoss (AP ammo), duo to the low velocity of the 20mm Guns of mere 490m/s.
Armarment:
While it looks like it, it doesnt actually have a turret, its a fixed casemate, with overall 12 gunports, to freely choose from to fix the gun to and shoot out of.
1-2x 20mm Becker M.II and (depending on the amount of 20mm guns) 1-2x 7,92mm Mg08 or Mg 15 n.A. (possibly also with K-Geschoss and around 16mm/10m)
2 cm Becker M.II
Pictures:(Click to show)
One of the first modern type 20mm Cannon and served as the basis for the later Oerlikon 20mm FF guns. Using the API Blowback action. It was Intended as a AA and AT gun, on ground, vehicles and planes/airships. Later M3 variant was heavyer, reducing the fire rate to 250 rpm but velocity to 700m/s.
It was intended as 20mm, to not be a warcrime to have an explosive filling, overall the ammo layout was also quite modern, with multiple AP rounds, HE rounds as well as incendary rounds.
Caliber: 20mm
Ammo: 20x70mmRB Becker
Fire Rate: 325 rpm
Single Shot, Full auto, 15 rounds Magazin
Muzzle velocity: 490-500m/s
Weight: 30kg
Mounting: Main Tank gun, Fixed and flexible
Ammo Types: Ap-T, I-T, I, HEI, HE
Summary Of ammo Drawings:(Click to show)
(The drawing isnt fully correct, as the nose is too thinn drawn.)
AP:
Panzergeschoß L'Spur Modell 1 (ApI-T) 145g 490m/s 18mm/10m
(Can be conciddered ApI-T, duo to huge tracer filling, made of Barium Nitrate, Magnesium and Shellac of 7g.)
Panzergeschoß L’Spur Modell 2 (ApI-T) (Identical to first one, different head form, see in above summary.)
HE:
Sprenggeschoß Modell 1 (He High capcity, Fuzeless) 137 g
5,5g TNT + 0,5g Pieic acid 495m/s (See ammo Summary)
Incendary:
Brandgeschoß (I) 137g 12g Incendary 495m/s some penetration
Leuchtspurgeschoß (I-T) 144g Barium Nitrate, Magnesium, Shellac filler 11g 490m/s some penetration
(A bit incorrect here)
The Vehicle: Büssing A5P
Weight: 10,3 ton
Dimensions: 9,5 m / 2,1 m / 3,5 m
Crew: 10
Armor: 6-9mm
Engine: 6 Cylinder Büssing 90 Ps
Speed: 35 Km/h
Source:
Fighting vehicles of the World (Philip Trewhitt)
Die deutschen Radpanzer im Ersten Weltkrieg Technische Entwicklung und Einsätze (Heinrich Kaufhold-Roll)
Die gepanzerten Radfahrzeuge des deutschen Heeres 1905-1945 (Walter J Spielberger)