Panzerkampfwagen E-50

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The Panzerkampfwagen E-50 was a German tank project from World War II . It belonged to the E series , with which attempts were made in the German Reich from around 1942 to replace the previous tank types.

development

The development of the E series began around 1942 to replace the previously existing tank types III and IV as well as the larger Panther and Tiger . These projects should range from the 5-ton weapon carrier to the 140-ton E-100 . Assemblies should be simplified and applied to several types, a kind of common parts strategy should reduce costs and increase serviceability.

The order for the E-50 went to the Weserhütte from Bad Oeynhausen, which in addition to the Adlerwerke from Frankfurt also designed the E-75 .

After the war, some of the findings from the related projects E-50 and E-75 flowed into the French AMX-50 , the Swiss Panzer 61 and the German Leopard 1 .

technology

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).

If possible, the E-50 should be equipped with a 900 hp Maybach HL 234 engine. This was a further development of the HL 230 used in the Panther and Tiger, but in the E-50 it was to be equipped with gasoline injection. This should allow the E-50 to reach a top speed of around 60 km / h on the road.

The procurement of the required armored hulls was delayed several times. Attempts to use the Tiger II's hull also failed.

literature

  • Fritz Hahn: Weapons and Secret Weapons of the German Army 1933–1945. Bernard & Graefe Verlag, Bonn 1998, ISBN 3-7637-5915-8 , p. 88f.
  • Walter J. Spielberger: Panther & Its Variants. Schiffer Military / Aviation History, Atglen 1997, ISBN 978-0887403972 , p. 156ff.
  • David Porter: Hitler's Secret Weapons 1933–1945. Amber Books, London 2010, ISBN 978-1-906626-74-7 , pp. 68f.
  • Michael Sawodny and Kai Bracher: Panzerkampfwagen Maus and other tank projects. Podzun-Pallas-Verlag, Friedberg 1978, ISBN 3-7909-0064-8 , p. 43ff.

Web links

Commons : Panzerkampfwagen E-50  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b c Fritz Hahn: Weapons and Secret Weapons of the German Army 1933–1945. Bernard & Graefe Verlag, Bonn 1998, ISBN 3-7637-5915-8 , p. 89
  2. ↑ Bruce Crosby: Panzerkampfwagen E-50
  3. ^ Walter J. Spielberger: Panther & Its Variants . Schiffer Military / Aviation History, Atglen 1997, ISBN 978-0-88740-397-2 , pp. 156 ff .