- Yes!
- No!
A brief disclaimer: I have not seen the main-source regarding this topic, merely a summary on a website which works with documents of the military-branch from East-Germany, so while I do not doubt that these documents exist, I cannot vouch for this being 100% historically accurate and I let a lot of my interpretation flow into it, since, for example, the exact version of the T-10 is not stated.
[UPDATE]
I have since come into posession of the name of the document which apparently states that East Germany has ordered or trialed the T-10 heavy tank (version unknown, but I would assume T-10M since the document is dated 1957, the same year the T-10M was adopted, and the tank was planned to be introduced in 1959), the document includes 201 pages and is situated within the Freiburg military-archive.
I am currently not in the position to travel to Freiburg to read through these documents, but as soon as I can I will update this post.
Disclaimer over, here is the suggestion:
After the creation of the NVA in 1956, the GDR quite quickly voiced the order, that multiple heavy-tank brigades were to be put into service. This order was executed just as quickly and IS-2’s, that were beforehand fielded to the KVP (Kasernierte Volkspolizei and the predecessor of the NVA), in 1952, were inherited and put into service with the NVA in the same year as it’s creation: 1956.
However, there were mentions during the same time, that a new heavy tank, the T-10, was planned to be adopted from the USSR for GDR use. In the German documents regarding this tank, it is referred to as “Schwerer Panzer X”, or just “Panzer X”, basically being the “Germanized” version of the name T-10 (tank 10) with the German words “Schwerer Panzer”, meaning heavy tank, and the number 10 being a roman numeral.
A total of 121 T-10s were supposedly ordered in 1957. At the same time, 7.000 shells for the main gun of the Panzer X were ordered, with a further 140.000 planned for 1960. There were also plans for driving-lessons (Motorstunden) planned in 1957, for 1960. The new T-10s were to be fielded by 1959 and the remaining IS-2s were to be converted into towing-machines.
All of these ambitions came to a stop, with the realisation, that the heavy-tank as a concept, will not be effective on the battlefields of the cold war, seeing as the new American M60 was able to perforate the T-10 from the front with it’s 105mm cannon, while a heavy tank would be quite slow and it’s now irrelevant armor did not justify the cumbersomeness of the a tank like the T-10, additionally, seeing as the USSR was constructing a new medium tank, the T-62, the GDR ultimately did not go through with the plan of introducing any T-10 into the NVA, and in fact, dropped the heavy tank altogether from their doctrine.
I will still suggest this vehicle for the German tech-tree, simply because of two reasons: Germany is in need of a replacement for the Tiger II 10,5cm (there really isn’t any other heavy-tank at rank V Germany could get) and, in case a newer version like the T-10B or T-10M is chosen, it could be the only chance for Germany to get a “high-tier” heavy tank.
Versions:
T-10:
Compared to all later T-10 models, the base T-10 lacks any sort of stabilizer, it does not even sport the horizontal stabilizer of the T-10A. The cannon is also different, the T-10 has a 122mm D-25TA which has no fume-extractor, overall being quite old-fashioned.
The T-10 was also only fielded with two types of shells, AP and HE, this includes standard 122mm shells like the various BR-471 APHEBC shells and OF-472 HE, since sub-caliber and HEAT-FS ammo for the 122mm was firstly introduced in 1967 and by that time, the T-10 was already replaced by the T-10M with the more powerful high-pressure 122mm M-62-T2 L/43 cannon. The T-10 obr. 1953 also did not possess any night-vision capabilities, while the T-10 obr. 1960 did, more on that further down below.
Much like all other T-10’s, the T-10 obr. 1953 is equipped with a chain-rammer loading-assistant mechanism, which is similar in operation to the loading-assistant mechanism of the IS-7, though instead of having the shells stored in a dedicated ammo-rack, like it is the case with the IS-7, the two-piece ammo of the 122mm cannon has to be placed on the loading-tray by hand.
Compared to the T-10M, the T-10 appears to have a faster reload-rate, with the T-10M having an average of 16 seconds, while the T-10 achieves under 10 seconds with use of the ready-rack.
This text from the book “Soviet T-10 Heavy Tank and Variants” by James Kinnear and Stephen L. Sewell talks about the differences of the T-10 and T-10M and mentions the increase in loading-time, though it sadly doesn‘t mention why the reload-time was increased:
Loading-procedure of the T-10:
T-10 pictures:
Schematics:
T-10A:
The T-10A was not much different to the T-10, with the main difference being the addition of a vertical stabilizer for the 122mm cannon, as well as a fume-excavator, which reduced the buildup of residual propellant-fumes in the fighting compartment, during the firing of the cannon.
Pictures (T-10A):
T-10B:
The T-10B’s main improvement over the T-10A was a two-plain stabilizers, which allowed for accurate on the move firing and reloading of the main cannon.
Picture (T-10B):
T-10M:
Compared to the T-10B, the T-10M, which entered service in the same year as the former, received a new 122mm M62T2 cannon with improved ballistics and muzzle-brake, two-plain stabilizer, NVD equipment, 12,7mm HMG’s were replaced with 14,5mm HMG’s, full NBC protection and an improved 750hp V-12-6 engine.
Pictures (T-10M):
Spoiler
http://armor.kiev.ua/Tanks/Modern/T10/t10_03.jpg
T-10 obr. 1960:
In 1960 an unknown amount of T-10’s were upgraded with IR and night-sight capability, which would open the possibility to give Germany such a version, though this is more of a side-note.
Upgrades included:
TPN 1-29-14 night-sight
L-2 “Lua” IR-spotlight
TKN-1T IR-periscope
OU-3T IR-spotlight
FG-100 IR-spotlight
Picture of a T-10 obr. 1960:
Specifications (T-10 obr. 1953):
Crew: 4
Lenght: 9,87m
Width: 3,56
Height: 2,43
Weight: 52t
Armament: 1x 122mm D-25TA (30rpg) 2x 12,7mm DShK HMG (500 rpg)
Conclusion:
I personally think that regardless of what version(s?) would be chosen by the developers, if this tank is ever added, it would be a great vehicle for the German tech-tree, being a tank with decent armour, decent mobility and decent firepower, which for a heavy tank, is something Germany does not have many of.
Any of the versions would be non-modified T-10’s with the exception of the NVA markings on the turret, which is why I think the markings on the Panzer X should probably be part of all camos and be unremovable, much like the unremovable NVA markings on the SPz BMP-1.
As for the name, I believe “T-10 / T-10A / T-10B / T-10M” would be completely adequate, although the name “Schwerer Panzer X / Panzer X” would be unique and cool to see, I think the standard “T-10” specification would spark less confusion.
How the markings could look (picture is an East-German T-54AMZ):
Thanks for reading and if you want to add or correct something, feel free to let me know.
Cheers!
Sources:
Spoiler
“Kampfpanzer der NVA” by Jörg Siegert and Helmut Hanske
“Soviet T-10 Heavy Tank and Variants” by James Kinnear and Stephen L. Sewell