Schützenpanzer (lang) HS 30 - Germany adopts a infantry tank

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The Bundeswehr adopts a infantry tank

In the early days of the German rearmament, the newly founded Bundeswehr was searching for an APC to fight alongside its infantry troops, the “Panzergrenadiere.” The Bundeswehr had the following demands for the tank: fully tracked off-road capability, a power-to-weight ratio of at least 20 HP per Ton with an automatic transmission, a closed armored troop compartment, and a 20 mm autocannon in a turret.

In-game it would be almost the same as the Event vehicle SPz 12-3 LGS without the recoilless rifle. Behaving almost like a proto-Wiesel without its speed bonus but with significantly more frontal armor.

Testing and Procurement

In 1956 the Swiss company Hispano Suiza (Suisse) revealed a wooden mockup of the HS 30 to the German defense committee, who then made an order for over 10000 HS 30 in July of 1956.

From the beginning the procurement and testing of the HS 30 were plagued by problems. Hispano Suiza had no experience nor capabilities of producing an armored vehicle in-house, so manufacturing was subcontracted to Leyland Motors in England and Hanomag and Henschel in Germany. The design was not thought through, and the German manufacturers had to redesign many components, such as the transmission. In testing and service, more problems occurred, many related to the design changes. An official report by the Bundestag states the following main problems:
Early models had transmission problems leading to a total refit in 1965/1966
The tracks were an outdated design, leading to excessive wear and tear
Due to the design changes, the Rolls Royce engine was severely underpowered, leading to a power-to-weight ratio of about 15 hp per ton
Disembarkment of the Troops through the roof hatches exposed them to enemy fire

Overall, only a little more than 2000 HS 30 would be delivered between 1959 and 1962, when the Bundeswehr canceled the procurement in favor of the later Marder, which was in delivery by 1971, with the last HS 30 being retired in the early 80s.

Technical Specifications

–Mobility–

Weight: 14.37 metric tons
Engine: 220 hp Rolls-Royce B81 Mk.80
P/W: 15.3 HP/t
Top speed: 58 kmph forward
~8 kmph reverse
Torsion bar suspension

–Survilability–

Crew: 3 (Gunner/Loader + Commander + Driver)
Armor: 30/15/20 mm

–Armament–

Gun: 20mm MK20-1 aka HS 820 L/85
Secondary Armament: MG1 7.62 Nato
Defense systems: 8 smoke grenade launchers

Visual Reference

Sources

• (SPz 12-3 LGS | War Thunder Wiki)

• Tankograd 5018 Schützenpanzer kurz, Hotchkiss / lang, HS 30

• (Schützenpanzer, lang, HS30)

• (Ulrich´s Referenzbilder - SPz lang HS 30)