- Yes
- No
I would like to suggest the WW1 Tank Orion-Wagen II Männlich (or Prototype II (Male))
It was only partly finished, however was to be Weiblich and Männlich (Female and Male) like the British Mark tanks, with the Female having a 7,92 mm Mg 08/18 and the Male a 20mm Becker MII cannon in a fully rotating turret.
This would perfectily fit in a WW1 Mode, but would be rather struggling against WW2 tanks, if not beeing of AA use. But would certainly also show the german tank development, that didnt came to fruitation beyond the Legendary well know A7V tank.
After the rather bad results with the A7V tanks, new ideas and models were looked for, which along others such as A7VU, K-Wagen, L.K.I and II were also a couple of different companies with “-Wagen”, which was also the Orion-Wagen.
On 14th May 1917, a demonstation at Mainzer Sand was held for the OHL, with the Bremer-Wagen on 5th may, while it was rather disappointing, the Orion-Wagen, Treffas-Wagen and Dur-Wagen were also shown, which also failed to win approval.
With the first Orion Wagen having failed to be approved ad 2nd reworked Prototpye was build. The reason was mainly the track system, which continually slip and in the end broke, with a weak engine of 45 Ps, it was a steering wheel at the front, with big track parts at the back.
The Reworked Protoype II which sadly wasnt finished went away from the front steering wheel and was developed in late 1917. Pretty much a completely new approach to the designe, with also 4x Mgs and a male version with 20mm Becker M II gun in a fully rotating turret. It was however discontinued, as the OHL chose the A7V tank instead.
360° Traverse at 20-25°/sec unknown elevation ~ -10° to 30° or more.
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)
Specifications:
Weight: 7 ton
Crew: 2
Size: 7m / 2m / 2m
Engine: 45 Ps → Early on replaced by 100 Ps engines as on the A7V
Speed: 8km/h
Armarment: 1x 20mm Becker M.II, 7,92 mm Mg 08/18
Source:
Orion-Wagen Tim Rigsby
Notes on German Shells 1918 (second edition)
Private Gallery (International Ammunition Association Inc.)
Genesis, Employment, Aftermath: First World War Tanks Alaric Searle
Sturmpanzerwagen A7V Festschrift Uwe Larsen
http://www.landships.info/landships/tank_articles/Orionwagen.html