Thomas L. Jentz - Germany's Panther Tank : The Quest for Combat Supremacy, ISBN 10: 0887408125 / 0-88740-812-5, ISBN 13: 9780887408120, rok vydania 1995
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After the first experience with new Soviet tanks T-34 and KV-1 an effort was quickly made to develop a new medium tank weighing 30 tons. A special Panzerkommission led by Oberst Fichtner ( WaPrüf 6) was established. Representatives of WaPrüf 6 (Major Ruden, Oberbaurat Kniepkamp), Prof.Dr. became members of the commission. Porsche, CEO of Steyr Dr.Hacker, Dr. Roland (company director Vereinigte Stahlwerke), company director Daimler-Benz Wunderlich, Director of Dorn ( Krupp-Kanonen), Obering. Aders ( Henschel), Ing. Oswald ( M.A.N.) and Obering. Rooms ( Rheinmetall). At a meeting of the Panzerkommission with Generaloberst Guderian on November 18, 1941, the serious situation of German armored units and the acute need for a new medium tank, which had have heavier armament, stronger armor, and higher maneuverability than existing German and Soviet tanks. The contract for the development of the new tank was won by Daimler-Benz and MAN Company Rheinmetall was to supply for the new platform a tower with 7.5 cm Kw.K. L/70 originally intended for tank VK 45.01 (H) ( Pz.Kpfw. VI Ausf.H2). 23.1.1942 Adolf Hitler presented two competing projects of companies Daimler-Benz a MAN The VK 30.01 (D) project was obviously based on the Soviet T-34, on the Soviet tank and very similar. Ríšsky minister Dr. Todt preferred this project and expected it to be mass-produced. 28.1. and January 29, 1942, a working meeting of representatives of the company Daimler-Benz and representatives of WaPrüf 6 took place. Oberst Fichtner promoted leaf spring suspension instead of torsion bar suspension. This preference for this type of suspension also accompanied previous projects of tanks in the weight category of 20 tons (VK 20.XX). The company Daimler-Benz was to produce five prototypes, one with a diesel engine MB 507, the other with a petrol engine MB 503 and the remaining three with a petrol engine Maybach HL 210. The first prototype was to be made by 6/1942. 8.2.1942 Imperial Minister Dr.Todt died in a plane crash and took his post Albert Speer. In his report of March 5, 1942, he writes that he recommended to Hitler a serial order for 200 pieces of tanks VK 30.01 (D). Samotný Hitler considered Daimler-Benz's project Daimler-Benz better. A special commission composed of In 6 representatives Oberst Thomale and Prof.Ing.Dr. von Eberan (Dresden University of Technology) after studying the drawings and technical data of both projects (VK 30.01 (D) and VK 30.02 (M)) prepared a report for the Panzerkommission on May 11, 1942, in which she evaluated the company as a better project MAN She also gave some good reasons for her decision. A serious reservation was the unfinished design of the new tower Daimler-Benz, which could start production until 12/1942.The diameter of the tower was 50 mm smaller than that of M.A.N. and it was not possible to use the Rheinmetall tower. Overall, the platform of the company M.A.N. was evaluated as better, the action radius (range) of the tank was also better. May 13, 1942 a meeting of representatives of companies Daimler-Benz and MAN at Hitler[/i ], where the report of the special commission was taken over. The plan did not take into account the possible production of both machines at the same time. Hitler commissioned to examine the situation around the construction of prototypes and the overall readiness of Major Engel's projects. On March 14, 1942, Major Engel telephoned Hitler that work on a prototype of the Panther company M.A.N. was already underway. March 15, 1942 Oberst Fichtner telephoned M.A.N. that Hitler had changed his mind and preferred their project and would receive an order for series production. At the same time, he demanded that the thickness of the frontal armor be increased to 80 mm. May 20, 1942 Imperial Minister Albert Speer informed the company Daimler-Benz that work on the project VK 30.01 ( D) were to be stopped, only a prototype for study purposes was to be completed.
There were two chassis layout studies. One classic concept with leaf springs and the other with torsion bar suspension. Only the platform VK 30.01 (D) with leaf springs was completed, see. photo below. Prototype Daimler-Benz participated in comparative tests at the Bad Berka polygon (together with prototypes VK 45.01 (P), VK 45.01 (H), VK 30.01 ( M) and VK 30.01 (D)) between 8. - 14.11.1942. The prototype broke down on November 9, 1942 during a demonstration drive after a 2 km drive and was not repaired until the end of the tests. A full-fledged prototype with a tower was not completed. All I know are photos of a wooden model of a model with torsion springs and photos of a disassembled prototype with leaf spring suspension, which lies in front of the factory hall of the company Daimler-Benz in Berlin after the war.
Thomas L. Jentz - Germany's Panther Tank: The Quest for Combat Supremacy, ISBN 10: 0887408125/0-88740-812-5, ISBN 13: 9780887408120, year of publication 1995 Thomas L. Jentz, Hilary L. Doyle - Germany´s Tiger tanks D.W. to Tiger I Design, production & modifications, year of publication 2000, Shiffer Military History, ISBN 0-7643-1038-0 Walter J. Spielberger - The Panther & Its Variants, year of publication 1993, ISBN-10: 0887403972, ISBN-13: 9780887403972 http://forum.axishistory.com/viewforum.php?f=47
Druhý pohľad na opustený prototyp ležiaci pred budovou Damimler-Benz po skončení vojny. Vzhľadom na silnú retuš fotografie predpokladám, že ide o sovietsku fotografiu. Sovieti totiž využívali retuš fotografií vo veľkej miere.
URL : https://www.valka.cz/VK-30-01-D-t120101#545817
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