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Neubaufahrzeug

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Neubaufahrzeug
ANeubaufahrzeug VinNorwayin April 1940
TypeMedium tank
Place of originNazi Germany
Service history
In service1935–1940
Used byNazi Germany
WarsWorld War II
Production history
DesignerRheinmetall
Krupp
Designed1933–1934
ManufacturerRheinmetall
Produced1934–1936
No.built5
Specifications
Mass23.41 tonnes (23.04 long tons; 25.81 short tons)
Length6.65 m (21 ft 10 in)
Width2.90 m (9 ft 6 in)
Height2.90 m (9 ft 6 in)
Crew6
Armor10–20 mm (0.39–0.79 in)
Main
armament
7.5 cm KwK 37
Secondary
armament
3.7 cm KwK 36
3× 7.92 mmMG 34machine gun
Engine290 hpBMWVa
TransmissionZF SSG 280
Suspensioncoil springs
Fuel capacity457 liters
Operational
range
road: 120 km (75 mi)
Maximum speedmaximum: 30 km/h (19 mph)
road: 25 km/h (16 mph)

The GermanPanzerkampfwagen Neubaufahrzeug( "new construction vehicle" —a cover name), abbreviated asPzKpfw Nb.Fz,series oftankprototypes were a first attempt to create amedium tankfor theWehrmachtafterAdolf Hitlerhad come to power. Multi-turreted, heavy and slow, they were not considered successful, which led to only five being produced. These were primarily used for propaganda purposes and training, though three took part in theBattle of Norwayin 1940. Pictures of theNeubaufahrzeugewere displayed with different turret models and orientations to fool allied spies; American and Soviet agents independently reported that the Germans had two new heavy tanks, the Panzer V and VI. In reality, these tanks were far from thePanzer V Pantherand thePanzer VI Tiger.[1]

Development[edit]

Neubaufahrzeug while being repaired

Development of theNeubaufahrzeugstarted in 1932 whenWa Prüf6 established design specifications for a new 15 tonne tank to be known as the "mittlere Traktor".It had many connections to the previousGroßtraktor,utilizing many of the same components including the engine and transmission. Initially bothKruppandRheinmetallwere asked to submit proposals, but after the end of trials of theGroßtraktorprototypes, during which Rheinmetall's vehicle proved superior to others, Krupp would only be awarded a contract for a turret design while Rheinmetall was to design both a chassis and turret. Rheinmetall's turret design had a rounded shape and was armed with a 3.7 cm gun above the 7.5 cm gun, while Krupp's turret was more rectangular and had the 3.7 cm gun mounted beside the 7.5 cm gun. Both turrets were also armed with a co-axialMG-34machine gun, along with the two sub-turrets at the front and rear of the tank.[2]

TheNeubaufahrzeugwent through a series of name changes, including "Groß Traktor Nachbau","Mittlerer Traktor Neubau",and"Neubau Fahrzeug"in 1933, and"Neubau-Panzerkampfwagen IV"in April 1940. TheNeubaufahrzeugwas never officially namedPanzerkampfwagenV or VI.[3]

Twomild steeltrial tanks were built by Rheinmetall in 1934. The first prototype used Rheinmetall's own turret design, while the second prototype used Krupp's turret design, which was mounted in 1935. Three more tanks were built in 1936 with proper armor, all mounting Krupp's turret design. The sub-turrets were also redesigned by a third contractor.[4]

TheNeubaufahrzeugwas intended to fulfill the role of a medium tank in Germany's developing armored force, but it proved to have too many problems with its front drive andaero-enginefor this role. But even with all its faults, theNeubaufahrzeugprovided insight into tank designing that was valuable for the next German medium tank project, theBegleitwagen( "accompanying vehicle" ), which would enter service as thePanzer IV.[5]

Service history[edit]

ThreeNeubaufahrzeugearriving inOsloHarbour, April 1940.

Though these tanks were never placed in production, they provided a propaganda tool forNaziGermany, for example being shown at the International Automobile Exposition inBerlinin 1939.

This propaganda role was extended with the German invasion of Norway, when [[Panzer-Abteilung 40|Panzer Abteilung z.b.V.40]] (40th Special-Purpose Tank Battalion) was formed for supporting the invasion of Norway, and the threeNeubaufahrzeugewere assigned to that unit. One vehicle was assigned toKampfgruppeFischeradvancing north through theØsterdalenValley, while the other two were assigned toKampfgruppe Pellengahradvancing up theGudbrand Valley.The one assigned toKampfgruppe Fischerwas immobilized with mechanical problems on its way toLillehammer,while one of the two assigned toKampfgruppe Pellengahralso had mechanical problems just north of Lillehammer. Only one tank actually made it to the front; it was immediately put in action with the German force advancing up the Gudbrand Valley with other elements ofPanzer Abteilung z.b.V.40.[6]

TheNeubaufahrzeugefirst saw combat against British and Norwegian positions on April 22, near the hillBalbergat the far south end of the Gudbrand Valley, 7 km north of Lillehammer. The British Expeditionary Force was equipped with 0.55 inch calibreBoys anti-tank riflesthat easily penetrated theNeubaufahrzeug.After dozens of hits, including one that killed a crew member, the tank retreated and the crew was hesitant to advance further. Other German units pushed further through, flanking the British forces and forcing them to retreat.[7]

It is unclear what happened to the tanks after the Norway campaign, but none of them survived the war. The surviving vehicles were ordered to be scrapped in 1941, and this took place in 1942 according to documents captured by the British in 1945. The dates when the vehicles were scrapped are unclear, but it is thought that the beginning of the construction of theSturer Emilprototypes dates from the same time.

According to contemporary German sources, three NbFz were attached to the1st Panzer Armyand destroyed in battle with SovietBT-7tanks in present-dayUkrainein June 1941.

The last known survivingNeubaufahrzeugwas used by a Lehr instruction unit in late 1944 as a target for training theVolkssturmin the use of thePanzerschreck(Raketenpanzerbüchse 54)and other anti-tank weapons.[citation needed]

All that survives of these tanks is a small number ofrunning gearparts, preserved in theGudbrandsdal Krigsminnesamling(Gudbrand Valley War Memorial collection), atKvamin Norway.[8]

References[edit]

Citations
  1. ^Kavalerchik, Boris (2018).The Tanks of Operation Barbarossa; Soviet versus German Armour on the Eastern Front.Translated by Britton, Stuart. Pen & Sword Books.ISBN978-1-4738-8682-7.[page needed]
  2. ^Jentz. p. 4-6
  3. ^Jentz. p. 4-6
  4. ^Jentz. p. 4-6
  5. ^Jentz. p. 4-1
  6. ^Nilsen. p. 10
  7. ^Hauge, page 302-305
  8. ^"Surviving German WW2 Sonderfahrzeuge"(PDF).Surviving Panzers website. 22 October 2009.Retrieved1 June2012.
Bibliography
  • Chamberlain, Peter & Doyle, Hillary:Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two: The Complete Illustrated Directory of German Battle Tanks, Armoured Cars, Self-propelled guns and Semi-tracked Vehicles 1939-1945,Silverdale Books, 2004ISBN1-84509-012-8
  • Hauge, Andreas;Kampene i Norge 1940, Bind 1[The Battles in Norway 1940, Volume 1]. Krigshistorisk Forlag 1995 (reprint of 1977 original)ISBN82-993369-0-2(In Norwegian)
  • Munthe-Kaas, O.; Krigen i Norge 1940,Operasjonene gjennom Romerike - Hedemarken - Gudbrandsdalen - Romsdalen, Bind I-II.[The War in Norway, operations through Romerike-Hedmark-Gudbrandsdalen-Romsdalen, Vol 1-2].Den Krigshistoriske Avdeling1955 (in Norwegian)
  • Nilsen, Tom V.G.;Tysk Panzer under felttoget i Norge Del 2: Panzerzug Horstmann & Neubaufahrzeuge[German Tanks in the Norwegian Campaign, Part 2]. Mud and Snow, Historiske Militære Kjøretøyers Forening 2007 (in Norwegian)
  • Spielberger, Walter J:Die Motorisierung der Deutschen Reichswehr 1920–1935,S. 332–347 Motorbuchverlag, Stuttgart 1979,ISBN3-87943-612-6.(in German)
  • Jentz, Thomas L; Doyle, Hilary L: Panzer Tracts No. 4Panzerkampfwagen IV,Darlington Productions 1997,ISBN0-96487-934-4.

External links[edit]

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