VK 01/28

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The VK 28.01 is a standardized multi-purpose tank that was to be developed by Krupp AG from 1943 . In mid-1943, Krupp presented concepts for two prototypes . However, the development was stopped on May 8, 1944 at the instigation of the General Staff of the Army. To date, there are no corresponding models or construction drawings.

planning

In June 1943 Colonel General Guderian decreed that a new, standardized multi-purpose tank for reconnaissance , artillery observation, flak tanks , light tank destroyers , light self-propelled guns , armored troop transport and other purposes, based on a 28-ton vehicle with a cruising speed of 50–60 km / h should be developed. Plans production of Pz.Kpfw.IV set had already been made and the heavy Tiger - and Panther chassis were not suitable for these functions.

The Wa Prüf 6 chose Friedrich Krupp AG to come up with a design for the new multi-purpose tank , known today as the VK 28.01 . At the beginning of June 1943, Krupp initially proposed a chain frame with six 70 cm diameter running wheels on 60 cm wide chains . This enabled the 26-ton vehicle to maintain a speed of 30 km / h. Although the tank had a conventional front-wheel drive, the choice of drive was unusual: the air-cooled Argus model 12LD330H with twelve cylinders in H-shape, four-stroke diesel with 550 hp, an Olvar 55 11 17 transmission and the control unit of the Leopard project. As an alternative, both a normal water-cooled Maybach HL 100 with 400 hp and an air-cooled Saurer 8 cylinder in V-shape and two-stroke diesel were considered.

On this basis, Krupp presented the first two concepts of the multi-purpose tank:

  1. On July 16, 1943 a variant with 2 cm quadruple guns: the chassis length was 5.68 m, the width with aprons 3.22 m and the height 3.21 m. With a chain spacing of 2.52 m and a chain contact of 3.68 m, the steering ratio of 46: 1 was quite high. Slanted armor was very fashionable. On the upper front there was 5 cm of armor at a 55 ° angle, on the lower front 5 cm at a 45 ° angle, 3 cm upper side armor at a 30 ° angle, 3 cm lower side armor at a 0 ° angle, 3 cm rear armor at a 10 ° angle, 2 cm top armor and 2 cm bottom armor (reduced to 16 mm at the rear) are used. The 2 cm quadruple flaks were mounted on a cylindrical pedestal in a recessed section, instead of the usual low, three-armed frame with an all-round cover. A large 2 cm thick shield only protected the crew from the front, there were no side platforms with covers, as is usually the case on Krupp flak tanks. The crew consisted of five men, including the two loaders and the gunner of the quadruple flak.
  2. On July 20, 1943 another version with a Pz.Kpfw. IV BW turret: a chassis length of 5.69 m, with aprons 3.22 m wide and 2.61 m high. With the same tracks and chains, a steering ratio of 42: 1. The armor analogous to variant 1, only with a 20 ° angle in the rear armor. The turret was the standard turret of the Pz.Kpfw IV in Ausf.G with 5 cm front, 3 cm side and rear armor. The cast commander's dome with periscopes , similar to the panther design, was unique. This dome design was even supposed to be used for the Pz.Kpfw. IV series, but was dropped again when the tank was stopped in production in autumn 1944.

Both versions should be able to drive independently on rails. In July 1943, the development plan allowed three months for the design details, six months for building a prototype, three months for testing the same, and another eight months for perfecting the design. Series production could have started in April 1945.

On November 8, 1943, Krupp was informed by a tank officer from Gen.St.dH that the decision had been made to stop development of the multi-purpose tank . On May 8, 1944, the program was finally terminated on the orders of Wa Prüf 6 . Neither a training nor a prototype was made, not even a wooden model. The preliminary concept drawings can no longer be found.

Naming

As was customary with the German drawing board versions, there was no animal name, only a project name. These are made up of various design features. The “VK” for “trial design”, the “28” for the desired weight and the “01” for the first of different variants. The simplified designation "VK 2801" is also often found.

literature

  • Doyle, Hilary L. (Hilary Louis): Panzer Tracts / 20-1, Paper Panzers: Panzerkampfwagen, Sturmgeschütz, and Jagdpanzer: Panzerkampfwagen "Löwe" . No. 20-1 . Panzer Tracts, Boyds, Md. 2001, ISBN 0-9708407-3-X , p. 11 .
  • Doyle, Hilary L. (Hilary Louis) ,: Panzer Tracts / 20-2, Paper Panzers: Reconnaissance, Observation, and Anti-Aircraft. No. 20-2 . Panzer Tracts, Boyds, Md. 2002, ISBN 0-9708407-7-2 , pp. 90-91 .
  • Spielberger, Walter J .: Panther & its variants . Schiffer Military / Aviation History, Atglen, PA 1993, ISBN 978-0-88740-397-2 , pp. 174-176 .
  • Spielberger, Walter J .: Gepard: the history of German anti-aircraft tanks . Bernard & Graefe, Munich 1982, ISBN 3-7637-5198-X , p. 134-136 .
  • Uwe Lacina: ModellFan Edition 09/94 . In: GeraMond Verlag GmbH (Hrsg.): ModellFan . No. 09/94 . GeraMond Verlag GmbH, September 1994, ISSN  0341-5104 , p. 32 .