Published on
September 12, 2010 in
German.
The Pz. Kpfw. VI was introduced into service by Germany in the latter part of 1942.
Its construction incorporates a notable departure from past German practice in that the superstructure is welded to the main hull instead of being bolted. The use of heavy armor called for flat plates wherever possible, resulting in a simple box-like contour. Another interesting development in construction involves plate interlocking, secured by welding, in addition to the normal step jointing. This has no doubt been made necessary by the use of thicker armor, which ranges from 102 mm in the front nose plate to 92 mm in the cast steel gun mantlet, and 80 mm in the side superstructure.
The hull is divided into four compartments. The floor of the fighting compartment is suspended from and rotates with the turret. The turret is centrally mounted between the hull side plates. A circular fixed cupola, with an inside diameter of 20 inches, is mounted in the turret roof.
The suspension consists of front sprocket, rear idler, and eight triple, rubber-tired bogie wheels 31 1/2 inches in diameter sprung on torsion bars. The wheel assemblies straddle each other in such a manner that the outer rims of four of the wheels on each side may be removed to accommodate the narrow (20 1/2 inch) transportation track. For combat a wider (28 1/2 inch) track is utilized.
The mechanical layout follows orthodox German practice. The Maybach, V-12, 642 hp. engine is mounted centrally at the rear.
The armament consists of an electrically fired 8.8 cm Kw.K. 36 with coaxial 7.92 mm MG 34 in the turret, a ball-mounted MG 34 in the vertical plate, a 9 mm machine gun stowed, six smoke generators, and three mine throwers mounted on the superstructure roof. The existence of a Model “P” has also been reported.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Weight (in battle order) |
|
63 tons |
| Length |
|
(excl. gun) 20 ft., 8 1/2 ins. |
| Width |
|
12 ft., 3 ins. |
| Height |
|
9 ft., 4 3/4 ins. |
| Ground clearance |
|
17 ins. |
| Tread centers |
|
9 ft., 3 1/2 ins. |
| Ground contact |
|
12 ft., 6 ins. |
| Width of track |
|
28 1/2 ins.—20 1/2 ins. |
| Pitch of track |
|
5 1/8 ins. |
| Track links |
|
96 |
| Fording depth |
|
96 ft. |
| Theoretical radius of action |
| Roads |
|
87 miles |
| Cross-country |
|
53 miles |
| Speed |
| Roads |
|
25 miles |
| Cross-country |
|
15 miles |
| Armor |
| Front plate |
|
102 mm at 70° to horiz. |
| Sides |
|
80 mm at 80° to horiz. |
| Armament |
|
8.8 cm Kw.K 36
2 MG 34′s |
| M.V. |
|
2624 f/s |
| Wt. of projectile |
|
21 lb. |
| Ammunition |
|
8.8 cm 92 rds.
MG’s—5100 rds. |
| Engine |
|
Maybach HL 210, V-12, 642 hp. |
| Transmission |
|
Preselector, hydraulic—8 speeds forward, 4 reverse |
| Steering |
|
Controlled differential, hydraulic |
| Crew |
|
5 |
|
German: p. 38
Published on
September 11, 2010 in
German.
Information is being sought on this weapon.
SPECIFICATIONS
German: p. 40
Published on
December 28, 2009 in
German.
This heavy tank designed for defensive warfare or for penetrating strong lines of defense made its combat appearance in 1944. It is distinguished by heavy frontal armor and by the employment of the heaviest German gun to be used in a turret with 360° traverse—the 8.8 cm Kw. K. 43 (L/71). This gun has a muzzle velocity of 3,280 f/s, and firing an A.P.C.B.C. projectile weighing 22.4 pounds against 30° homogenous plate has a reported penetration of 6.3 inches at 1,000 yards.
The hull and superstructure are of single-skin welded construction with interlocked joints. The hull front is formed of a single sloping plate 150 mm thick, and a lower nose plate 100 mm thick. Each of these plates is set at an angle of 50° from the vertical, resembling in design the Panther rather than the earlier Tiger. The pannier side plates, 80 mm thick, are set at a 25° angle and also resemble those of the Panther. The turret is located sufficiently back of the angle of deflection to be clear of direct hits on the front plate. The rounded front is 180 mm thick.
At the rear of the vehicle is a Maybach 60°, V-12, gasoline engine of 600 horsepower. The transmission, steering, and final drive are similar to those of the Tiger E. The suspension is made up of nine torsion bars on each side to carry the tank on steel tired road wheels. Five of these overlap the four internal ones. Every alternate track link has two ground contact bars.
This tank mounts the 8.8 cm Kw. K. 43 (L/71), two M.G. 34′s, an antiaircraft machine gun, and a smoke projector. A commander’s version of this tank was also manufactured.
The transport trailer for this tank is described on page 62.2.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Weight |
|
75 tons |
| Length |
|
23 ft., 10 ins. |
| Width (overall) |
|
12 ft., 7 ins. |
| Height |
|
10 ft., 2 ins. |
| Ground clearance |
|
1 ft., 5 ins. |
| Tread centers |
|
9 ft., 4 ins. |
| Ground contact |
|
|
| Width of track |
|
32.5 ins. |
| Pitch of track |
|
5.9 ins. |
| Track links |
|
90 |
| Fording depth |
|
69 ins. |
| Theoretical radius of action |
| Roads |
|
106 |
| Cross-country |
| Speed |
| Roads |
|
23.6 m.p.h. |
| Cross-country |
|
10 m.p.h. |
| Armor |
| Front glacis plate |
|
150 mm |
| Sides |
|
80 mm |
| Armament |
|
(1) 8.8 cm Kw. K. 43; (2) 7.92 mm M.G.’s; (1) A.A. M.G.; (1) smoke projector |
| Ammunition (Rds.)—88 mm |
|
80 |
| Engine |
|
Maybach HL 230 |
| Transmission |
|
8 forward speeds; 4 reverse |
| Steering |
|
Controlled differential, hydraulically operated |
| Crew |
|
5 |
German: p. 38.2 (August 1, 1945)
