E series (tanks)
The E-series was a tank series developed in 1942 with which the Wehrmacht tried to replace the previous tank types, especially Panzer III , IV , V “Panther” and VI “Tiger” . It ranged from the 5-ton weapon carrier to the 140-ton E-100 . Not a single tank from this series was produced in series. The "E" stands for development.
development
Around 1942, the development of the E series began to replace the tank types III and IV and the larger Panther and Tiger tanks that were available at the time and to standardize assemblies. Assemblies should be simplified and applied to multiple types; a common parts strategy should reduce costs and increase ease of maintenance.
Projects (only the most important projects)
E10
Intended as a replacement for the Jagdpanzer 38t Hetzer , but this tank destroyer remained a project and no prototype was built. The planned armament was a 7.5 cm anti-tank gun 42 L / 70 .
E25
Intended to replace the Panzer III and IV, although the E25 is conceptually a tank destroyer. A prototype was not built. The armament should correspond to that of the E10, in addition a MG 42 in a rotating turret was planned.
E50
It was planned to equip the 50-ton tank (hence the name E-50) with the well-known 8.8 cm KwK 43 L / 71 from the King Tiger. A new rotating tower with an 8.8 cm KwK 43 was in development at Krupp. The armor, shape and dimensions were based on the Panther or its temporarily planned successor, the Panther II . Furthermore, it would only have differed from the E-75 in the thickness of the armor plates used; mechanically and in terms of drive technology, both vehicles would have been identical (as already planned for the Tiger II and Panther II).
E75
It was planned to position the approximately 75 t tank (hence the name E-75) slightly above the E-50 and to equip it with the 128 mm cannon (with a modified barrel) known from the Jagdtiger . The E 75 was supposed to replace the previous Tiger II tanks . The dimensions should be at the level of the E-50 with heavier armament and armor.
As in the E-50, the E-75 was to be powered by a 900 hp Maybach HL 234 engine. This was a further development of the HL 230 used in the Panther , but with fuel injection. With this engine, a top speed of around 40–45 km / h should be possible on the road.
The StuG -75 was intended to replace the Jagdtiger on the same chassis . With a weight of about 85 t and heavy armor, this combat vehicle should be armed with a 150 mm cannon.
E100
The E-100 was a purely experimental vehicle. The experience of the front troops, the latest technology and the current demands of the Army Armed Forces Office were incorporated into it . The E-tanks were therefore pure drawing board studies of the German Wehrmacht. Only the development of the E-100 continued and in 1943 the production order followed. However, Hitler's later ban on the development of super-heavy tanks due to scarcity of resources ensured that the prototype was continued with only three workers. The tower was similar to that of Panzerkampfwagen VIII Maus , but was no longer manufactured. The engine of the Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger II was installed for test purposes . This tank was supposed to be manufactured by the Adlerwerke .
The E-100, originally designed by Adler, weighed around 100 tons. The tower developed by Krupp for the mouse should also be used on the E-100 and now accommodate a 15.0 cm KwK. Since the draft, however, provided for by Adler only a 12.8-cm-high-tank gun, among other things, had to bath be extended to accommodate to the new tower. The 50-ton tower and the extended hull increased the total weight to 140 tons.
literature
- George Forty: The German tank weapon in World War II , Bechtermünz, ISBN 3-8289-5327-1
