- Yes
- No
I would like to sugges the Vk 30.01 (P) tank armed with the proposed 8,8 cm KwK 36 L/56, as found on the Tiger I. While the gun out of the 3 proposals (see history) the tank didnt go into produktion, this variant (along with the 10,5 cm variant exchanging power with reload speed) would be an interesting vehicle in line with the Vk 30.02 (M) already in game. It would be a smaller weaker variant to the Tiger I (or rather Vk 45.01(P)), which it in the end evolved into.
Little History: (Click to show)
The VK 30.01(P) (or in general the full Vk 30.01 series by all companys) where the start of development of a heavy tank in the 25-30 ton class, after the B.W. (Pz IV) and Z.W. (Pz III) established themself as Medium tanks (at that time still in the 15-20 ton class).
The heavy tanks were envisioned and started after the Durchbruchwagen (breakthroughtank) project came to an end. Overall in the 25-30 ton class, with 50mm armor all around and either a 7,5 cm KwK L/24 or 10,5 cm KwK L/28 gun option, to be used also as Artilleriewagen (which later evolved into the VK 36.01(H) for heavyer fire support and bunker busting.
The task to start development of the tank started in 05.12.1939, under the name Typ 100 by Porsche, the Vk 30.01(P) bekame the first of in the developmental line. As usual, the chassis was to be developed by the company (in this case Porsche, along with Henschel with their own hull and the turrets by Krupp along with the armarment.
The German army already befor the war wanted a heavy tank as soon as 1938 with the Vk 30.01 as a siege tank. In the following years till 1941 and early 1942 devlopment was still running, as the war progresses, ever growing enemy tanks appeared and as such the requirements also grew, while the weight class set complications on how the design may look, starting at the Vk 30.01, growing into the
Vk 36.01 and eventually into the Vk 45.01 and then into the Tiger I.
The starting point for Porsches Typ 100 was a tank in the 30 ton clas by Franz Xaver Reimspiess, formerly emplyed at Austro-Daimler and worked on armored cars together with Porsche.
While over time as development progressed, the hull was keep mostly unchanged, only increasing in armor thickness as the requirments grew. It started with a 1800mm turret ring and an 8,8 cm KwK 36 L/56. While they were initially not content with the desing, not long after in 05.1941 a new design was already finished, still with 1800mm turret ring. This turret already looked very similar to the Tiger I turret, with the new full cast commanders drum. However the turret roof was on one continues angle. Still with the 8,8 cm gun.
As work continued, the armarment was again put to choice, 8,8 cm KwK 36 L/56, 8,8 cm KwK L/57 with increased power and chamber or the 10,5 cm KwK L/47. This required to go to a 1900mm turret ring. The new turret was again asymetral and went back to the older style commanders cupola.
In the end for production efficiency as well as beeing simply enough, the 8,8 cm KwK 36 L/56 was chosen, while the 10,5 cm gun was very powerfull, offering very good performance against tanks, bunkers and infantry with practically the same shells as the LeFH 18, starting production on it was uneconomic.
The overall armor for the turret was 80mm to the front, 60mm on the sides, while the hull was 80 or 100mm at the front and the rest also 60mm. The weight most likely surpassed 30 and even 45 tons.
Overall 2 complete hulls in full condition were build as well as mockups of the turrets. The Ararments were build and tested.
The Armarment: 8,8 cm KwK 37 L/56 and Coax Mg 34
8,8 cm KwK/Flak 36 L/56
The 8,8 cm KwK 36 L/56 was based on the Flak 18 L/56, which was based on the 7,5 cm Flak L/60, after it was found to be lacking in diameter and payload. The Flak 18 allready had prooven itself in the Spanish Civil war where it was effectively used against all tanks (tho still all quite light) and again in the french campain when it was even placed on 2 different Halftrack basis of Sd.Kfz.8 and 9.
Its combination of projectile with great effect and penetration duo to good velocity made it usable to effectively fight strong positions, bunkers and tanks as well as to be used as field artillery.
Caliber: 88mm
Ammo: 88x570mmR
Fire Rate: 10 rpm
Single Shot, Vertical Breech block
Muzzle velocity: 600 - 930 m/s
Weight: 1000kg (?) (Flak Combat ready 7,407 kg)
Mounting: Field Mount, Main Tank gun, Self propelled mount
Ammo Types: Apcbc, Apcr, He, Heat
Ap:
Pzgr. (Apcbc) 9,5 kg 160g Fp.02 and Np.10 (215,04g) 810/820 m/s 157mm/10m
Pzgr.39 (Apcbc) 10,2 kg 64g Fp.02 and Np.10 (108,8g) 780/800m/s 167mm/10m
Pzgr.40 (Apcr) 7,3 kg 35x140mm 1,93 kg core 930m/s 211mm/10m
Gr.39 Hl (Heat) 7,64 kg 650g H.10 (1,1kg) 600 m/s 110mm/all
He:
Sprgr. L/4,5 (He-TF (No Tracer)) 9 kg 900g Fp.02 and Np.10 820/840m/s 18mm/10m 13mm/all
Br.Schr.Gr. (Shrapnell Incendary-TF (No Tracer)) 9kg Filler see inside Spoiler 820/840m/s
Expelling Charge: 56g Smokeless powder
Brusting Charge: 114g Amatol
Incendary Pelets: 72x of 30mm x 15mm
Made of Barium Nitrate, Magnesium Alloy, Alluminium Alloy, Acid Insoluble
Chassis characteristics: (Click to show)
Armor:
Frontal 80mm sides and back 60mm for turret and hull.
Weight: 30 ton (or more)
Length 6.58 m
Width 3.05 m
Height 2.8 m
Engine: 2x V10 210 Ps for 420Ps
Speed: 60 km/h both directions.
Crew: 5
Source:
Bundesarchiv
Geschossringbuch II
Tankarchives
Ferdinand und Elefant Tank Destroyer
Wunderwaffen neuartige Waffensysteme des Deutschen Heeres
Hitleers Tanks German Panzers of WW2