Modernization of the "Royal Tiger", 1945 year

“Crisis” release program tanksadopted in October 1944, provided for the abandonment of the production of the Royal Tiger. About any of his replacements at least over the next year we were not talking.

Unlike other combat vehicles that were supposed to be produced in the 1945 year, the Royal Tiger had to undergo minimal changes.

The main areas of work on this tank were to be the modernization of the chassis in order to ensure the reliability of its work and improve mobility, as well as improving the effectiveness of weapons.

6 February 1945 Dr. Aders, Chief Designer for Henschel, announced the following promising improvements to the Royal Tiger.

First of all, it was supposed to install a new Maybach HL 234 gasoline engine with a fuel injection system directly into the cylinders (now this is called the fuel injection system). This should not have caused serious problems, since in terms of dimensions it was almost the same as standing on a Maybach HL230 tank.

Maybach HL 234 was designed in the factories of the eponymous company since the fall of 1944. Work on the new engine was started because of the unreliable performance of the carburetors standing on the Maybach HL 230 — despite the measures taken, it was not possible to bring them to mind.

At a meeting of the “Commission for the Development of Tanks” 23 on January 1945, Colonel Hol-tchauer reported that according to the latest reports from Maybach, tests of the HL 234 engine with a capacity of 900 HP. showed that it has almost the same fuel consumption as the HL 230 version. But, despite the introduction of improvements in the design of cylinders, crankshaft and other parts, the new engine still needs to be improved.

The heavy royal tiger tank of the launch of the launch of the 1945 of the year, shot down in Hungary. 3-th Ukrainian Front, March 1945 of the Year (ASKM)

On the same day, a representative of the manufacturer, Dr. Heidekampf, stated that the Maybach HL 234 tests at the stand were not yet completed, and the engine tests in the tank were not started at all. Nevertheless, representatives of the "Tank Development Commission" almost unanimously called for the immediate inclusion of the Maybach HL 234 in the engine production program, given its clear advantages over the Maybach HL 230. However, until the end of the war, it was not even possible to complete the tests of the new engine.

In addition to the Maybach HL 234, it was intended to test Simmering-Pauker-Graz and Argus-MAN air-cooled diesel engines on the Royal Tiger, as well as water-cooled Humboldt-Deutz. According to Aders, the installation of these engines "will require a complete rework of the engine compartment and major changes in the design of the armor case and the track tension mechanism."

It was necessary to make changes to the engine cooling system, on which the control of armaments of the ground forces had long insisted. To this end, Argus has designed a new fan, and also proposed a redesigned grill for air access on the roof of the engine compartment. After testing, both parts were supposed to be installed on serial tanks.

Also considered options for improving the operation of the transmission of the tank through the use of other gear boxes, for example, designed by Zahnradfabrik for the Panther Ausf. F, as well as developed by Puis in Leipzig specifically for the "Royal Tiger". In addition, the tank had to test the hydraulic control system from Zahnradfabrik.

In addition, changes were supposed to be made in the design of the chassis (to increase its reliability), hatches of the driver and radio operator. Also considered were options for additional protection of the roof of the engine compartment from shrapnel and fire. aviation guns.

20 February 1945, the Army Chief of Staff, sent a two-part program to modernize the Royal Tiger to the weapons department. The first part contained those items that could be completed in a short time, which made it possible to improve the fighting qualities of the tank. The implementation of the points of the second part of the program required time and research and testing.

The first part of the Royal Tiger Improvement Program included the following:
mount sight with stabilized field of view - April 1945;
optical rangefinder installation - April 1945;
installation of the engine Maybach HL 234 power 900 l. with. with fuel injection directly into the cylinders - August 1945 of the year.

The Royal Tiger heavy tank of the launch of the launch of the 1945 of the year, damaged or abandoned by the crew due to a breakdown. Hungary, March 1945 of the year (ASKM)

Another “Royal Tiger” release launched the 1945 of the year. Most likely, the car was left by the crew. Pay attention to the spare tracked tracks, mounted on board the tower. Hungary, 3-th Ukrainian Front, March 1945 of the Year (ASKM)

American officers inspect the towers of the "royal tigers", ready for installation on the tanks. Henschel Plant, March 1945 of the Year (AT)

Tower tank "Royal Tiger", which did not have time to unload from the railway platform. Wegmann Plant, Spring 1945 of the Year (ON)

Towers of "royal tigers", ready for installation on tanks. Henschel Plant, March 1945 of the Year (AT)

These projects were priority, and should have been introduced into mass production no later than the specified date. Among the works that required time for completion were the main ones: tests in the Royal Tiger of Simmering-Pauker-Graz and Humboldt-Deutz diesel engines, installing a sight with a stabilized field of view, a stabilized gun, a mechanism that facilitates loading, and systems to protect against poisoning substances.

Work on the creation of a tank sight with a stabilized field of view was carried out in Germany since the 1943 year. For the Royal Tiger, they were designed by Ernst Leitz in Wetzlar together with Krupp engineers. 10 March 1945 last reported to the Tank Armament Test Department (WaPruf 6) that test attempts were made to install a periscope sight with the SZF3 stabilized field of view into the Royal Tiger Tower. It turned out that it is necessary to make some changes to the front sheet of the tower for the convenience of mounting SZF3. Ernst Leitz received an order for the 1000 SZF3 sights, but until the end of the war, none of them was made.

In addition to the periscopic, for the “Royal Tiger” they also designed periscopic sights with a stabilized field of view. They were engaged in the companies Carl Zeiss in Jena and Kreiselgeraete AG in Berlin. The greatest success was achieved by the latter, who worked on two variants of sights - Turmwinkelzielfemrohr 2 and Turmwinkelzielfemrohr 3. To install them in the roof of the tower on the left side it was necessary to cut a special hole. The sight head on top was protected by an armored cap.

The installation of the 1,6-meter rangefinder at the Royal Tiger began in October 1944, and was carried out by Krupp. February 28 1945, the last reported to the test department of tank weapons (WaPruf 6), that the first version of the tower with the installation of a rangefinder is supposed to produce by March 31. From the usual serial, it differed by the presence in the sides of two armored spherical projections for rangefinder lenses. According to the calculations of the company Krupp, their mass production was to begin with the 601-th tower, around mid-July 1945 year.

As for the stabilized cannon, 24 January 1945, the leadership of the test department of tank weapons (WaPruf 6) reported to Krupp that the contract for the development of such an artillery system was concluded with the company Kreiselgeraete AG in Berlin. A month later, on February 20, Krupp was awarded a contract to install a recoilless 88-mm L / 71 cannon - Geschuetzrohr 8,8 cm L / 71 Starr in the “Royal Tiger” turret. This was a direct result of the successful testing of the 75-mm recoilless cannon in the Jagdpanzer 38 Starr. The place that was released after dismantling the recoil devices was planned to be used to install a semi-automatic mechanism or automatic feeding of shots to the gun (some kind of modern loader mechanism). This mechanism also had to be designed by Krupp, and Kreiselgeraete AG was assigned to develop a stabilizer for this instrument. However, by the end of the war until the completion of these works was very far.

Corps and tower of tanks "Royal Tiger", delivered to the factory of the company Wegmann for assembling tanks. Spring 1945 of the year (ON)

Modernized tank "Royal Tiger" with modifications that could appear on the machine in the summer of 1945, the installation of a rangefinder in the tower, a new fan and fan grilles on the roof of the engine compartment (highlighted in gray)

Some sources mention the Royal Tiger’s 105-mm L / 68 cannon armament project. Indeed, this version of the machine was proposed by Krupp in November 1944, along with options for other tanks and SPG, as mentioned above. However, the conclusion of the Tank Armaments Test Department (WaPruf 6) under this option, sent in January 1945 to the Army Armaments Directorate, was negative:

“The alleged 10,5-cm gun is not adopted by the army. Therefore, the decision to install such an instrument in a tank is not reasonable. In any case, this will require the installation of new sights, and you will probably have to make changes to the design of the tower. The use of ammunition separate loading, first of all will lead to a significant reduction in the rate of fire. In addition, a second loader is required for servicing the gun;

Summarizing, we can say that in the 1945, the “Royal Tiger” could appear with the installation of a range finder, a sight with a stabilized field of view, a new engine - this could be either the Maybach HL 234 carburetor or one of the diesel engines mentioned above - and, possibly a modernized transmission. Thus, the work on the “Royal Tiger” was aimed at improving the efficiency of tank armament and the reliability of the machine as a whole.

Diagram of the installation of the range finder in the tower of the Royal Tiger tank

Sketch design of the Royal Tiger 105-mm L / 68 cannon proposed by Krupp in November 1944

With regard to the installation of 88-mm recoilless gun and gun stabilizer, then these works could hardly be completed in the near future.

Information about the possible modernization of heavy tank destroyer "Yagdtigr", produced on the chassis of the "Royal Tiger", could not be found. But in a document from 1 March 1945 of the year “Review of the state of armament for tanks, assault, self-propelled guns and tractors until August 1945 of the year” 1 in May, and the rest until August. It can be assumed that these self-propelled guns could get the elements of modernization that were supposed to be introduced into the design of the base chassis.

Comments

[igordok]

A recoilless gun is a gun that does not have a recoil when firing. This effect is achieved due to the removal of part of the powder gases through a special nozzle in the breech of the barrel, as a result of which a reactive force is created that balances the recoil force.

In my opinion, a weapon that does not have recoil elements should not be called "recoilless". They have a rollback, but they are trying to extinguish it with the mass of the tank.
Although there are other opinions

A recoilless gun is a gun that does not have a recoil when firing.
The term recoilless gun is understood to mean both a dynamo-reactive gun and a cannon with a hard rollback, that is, a gun, the return of which was perceived by the entire hull of the tank.

Under the concept of a tank with a recoilless gun, I perceive only that.

[Archikah]

What Germans can note (then, not these) is that despite the "carpet bombing" and interruptions in the supply of components and supplies, until the very last day they worked for the country's defense. No one fell into despair and did not rush to run headlong to escape. It is significant that both telephone and mail services and all services in Germany were provided in full until the last day. Therefore, it is not surprising that they worked to bring their technology to perfection.
But even if we assume that tanks with new engines and a gun would start arriving in the tank units of the Wehrmacht in March. With thermal imagers and night sights. The amount that Germany could release at that time did not solve anything. The USSR dared all these attempts to stop its victorious march. Only it would probably cost all this more blood on our part. But the outcome was already predetermined.

[Volkhov]

Judging by the mask, the tank was immediately made under a 105 mm cannon, but so far it was adjusted to 88, that is, this is a systematic improvement of technology. Stalin at one time believed that the war did not end and was, as usual, right. A meeting with the Tiger - 3 somewhere in Africa or Scandinavia cannot even be ruled out.

[Kars]

Quote: Volkhov

Judging by the mask, the tank was immediately made under a 105 mm gun

I wonder where such a conclusion?

[Volkhov]

The flange after the cone with a margin, but in option 105 does not increase.

[Kars]

Quote: Volkhov

Flange after cone with margin,

That is the reservation of the mask so that it cannot balance the same.
and even this breech 88 mm barely climbed into the tower.

[Sergl]

Nevertheless, the practice of manufacturing different parts and components of the same armament at different enterprises in different cities in wartime is vicious (you have to carry parts under bombs around the country). But it is inevitable if the industry is in the hands of private owners.

[avt]

Quote: Archikah

What can be noted the Germans (then, and not these) is that despite the "carpet bombing" and interruptions in the supply of components and consumables, until the very last day they worked for the defense of the country.

Exactly ! Only when ours cut them off from raw materials for fuels and lubricants, and this is practically the Balaton operation, they did not lose their breakdown power.

Quote: Archikah

Only it would probably cost all this more blood on our part. But the outcome was already predetermined

Even as we would drink blood from us.

[vomag]

Pay attention to 2 photos there, the number 300 is written on the tower by hand. Germans usually put numbers through a stencil!

[Volkhov]

This is the number of trophies applied to the armor at the place of the beaten-off tsimmerit or letter ZOO for propaganda.

[GHG]

The number could have been inflicted by a trophy team.

[Kars]

The most useless tank in Germany. Although the view is excellent.

[Kars]

And a great trophy.

[cth; fyn]

The quality is poor, in all: the engine is not well developed, both the gearbox and the fig armor are due to the loss of alloy steel deposits.
So who knows what would happen if the quality were normal.
Regarding modernization: it was necessary to lean on air defense.

[Amfitsion]

Controversial, my friend, very controversial. There are many pros and cons

[Kars]

Quote: Amphitious

There are many pros and cons

No for.
And I completely agree with what Baryatinsky writes in the Tigers in the battle about CT.
Tank for the gun.
And the possible ones ..ZA .. only in a computer game. I’ve been loving to drive on a CT scan to the pancept front on the Dreamcast.

[Argon]

To inject gasoline directly into the cylinder of the engine and now the task is difficult to solve due to the rather high temperature of which the nozzle atomizer will be exposed. is the processor control unit. Rather, the SMV resembles a diesel fuel system with the only difference that the regulator controlled not only the fuel rail "injection pump", but also the air throttle.

[Bad_gr]

Quote: Argon

Injecting gasoline directly into the engine cylinder and now the task is intractable due to the rather high temperature which the atomizer nozzle will be exposed to.

On modern gasoline engines, gasoline is injected directly into the cylinder, but during the filling of the cylinder with air, and not at the last stage of compression, like a diesel engine, so the nozzle has greenhouse conditions.

Or I'm wrong ?

[the47th]

This is where they were ahead of us? 900 h.p. - not an indicator. Gasoline engines have less torque, so they need more power than diesel engines to achieve the required thrust. Another diesel engine power reserve is greater.

[family tree]

Quote: Alexey Prikazchikov

Ipat pound, atozh they are 10-15 years ahead of us.

La 5FN

star-shaped fourteen-cylinder air-cooled motor ASh-82FN designed by A.D. Shchvetsova. The engine is equipped with a two-speed supercharger and gearbox with a gear ratio of 11:16. The piston stroke in the cylinder is -155,5 mm, the cylinder volume is 41,2 l., Compression is 7. The maximum engine speed of 2600 rpm per minute is achieved in emergency (combat) operation, the engine can run in this mode for 30 with; in take-off mode at a speed of 2400 rpm, the engine develops a power of 1700 hp, in nominal mode - 1540 hp

The engine speed is controlled by the P-7 regulator mounted on the gear housing. Gasoline 4B-78 with an octane rating of at least 95 is injected directly into the cylinders with the NB-ZU injection pump at a pressure of 140-200 kPa. The engine is started by the pneumatic starter RV-02.

- a telescopic, stabilized in a vertical plane, TOS-1 sight with a shot resolution unit, stood on the T-26.
Optical rangefinders, 19th century, the fleet went widely.

[Alexey Prikazchikov]

- a telescopic, stabilized in a vertical plane, TOS-1 sight with a shot resolution unit, stood on the T-26.

And t 34 and is 2, and apt?

[family tree]

Quote: Alexey Prikazchikov

And t 34 and is 2, and apt?

On the T-34, this was from the very beginning, at the expense of IP and HF, I do not know, I have not bothered yet.
About tank sights http://otvaga2004.ru/tanki/tanki-concept/suo-sovetskix-i-nemeckix-tankov/

[Kars]

Quote: perepilka

http://otvaga2004.ru/tanki/tanki-concept/suo-sovetskix-i-nemeckix-tankov/

http://topwar.ru/18866-pribory-upravleniya-ognem-sovetskih-i-nemeckih-tankov-vto
roy-mirovoy-voyny-mify-i-realnost.html

[IRBIS]

Tanks "Tiger" of all modifications - tanks are unique. In reality - the best heavy tank of the Second World War, but the losing army cannot have the best weapon of war, by definition. And the development and implementation of a new "Tiger" in a catastrophic economic and martial situation - this is generally from the category of fantasy, which the Germans have brought to life. The technical genius of the Germans is undeniable, even though they hate them as enemies.

[EvilLion]

What is good about the "tiger" besides the scope? In other respects, the IS-2 is superior.

[max702]

I agree ! except in the tiger, the sight, in the IS2 and the gun are more powerful, and the patency and armor protection and range, absolutely all indicators are much higher, which indicates a higher school of developers, and even the C3 is superior to the tiger by the listed indicators.

[IRBIS]

Quote: max702

in the IS2 and the gun is more powerful, and patency and armor protection and range, absolutely all indicators are much higher which indicates a higher school of developers

Stop throwing slogans in a patriotic rush! The IS-2 never surpassed the "Tiger", the results of their collisions in battle serve as proof, and the small ammunition load of the IS-2 more than once played a bad joke with our tankers.

Quote: max702

and C3 is superior to the tiger by head in terms of the above indicators.

The IS-3 did not take part in hostilities, and it is at least incorrect to judge its combat qualities in comparison with the Tigers.

[the47th]

If you look at both "Tigers" from the side, then these are not heavy tanks. "Tigers" are heavy tank destroyers, or anti-tank self-propelled guns with a turret, like the American M10 or M36, because they could not do anything other than destroying tanks. And the IS-2 is a heavy all-purpose vehicle for breaking through defenses. Destroy a tank - please, smashing the fortification to hell is not a problem, suppressing a firing point is easy!

[Argon]

From a technical point of view, it is somewhat frivolous to compare machines of different masses-46t (Is-2) and Tigers 60-70t.

[ramsi]

no, but nothing more to compare

[max702]

Yeah, it was an order in the German army to not engage in clashes with the IS-2 .., and indeed the results of any clashes? The ISs mainly went on the attack, and the tigers were ambushed, here are the results, and the attackers’ losses even calculated 1 to 3 are considered the norm, not to mention the real ones, they went on the tigers to attack the Lake Balaton .. well, they stayed there. it’s true that the Tiger is a heavy tank destroyer and that’s all, and the IS2 is a tank, compare the explosive power of 88mm and 122mm .. And where did I write the lie? IP 3 adopted by the end of the war? Therefore, we have the right to compare, the article also talks about future modifications of the tiger .. which even in metal never existed, but the IS3 was. According to some reports, it took part in the defeat of the Kwantung army, so it most likely fought during the Second World War.

[mvg]

IS-3 fought in the Arab-Israeli wars on the side of Egypt

[yehat]

Stop ... IS-2 never outnumbered the Tiger,

Well, yes, it didn’t exceed, only from 1.5 km could he shoot a tiger with impunity
and his gun was much better suited to support the infantry because of the power of a high-explosive projectile. And ballistics + accuracy at a great distance with the gun d25 was utterly better.
And the potential of the cumulative projectile of the IC was much better than any tiger shells.

You strangely raise the question - which tank is stronger? You would argue which of them is a muffler thicker or longer! IS was created to support the infantry, to destroy the entire spectrum of field (mostly stationary) targets. IS-2 during combat use rarely closer than 1.5-2 km approached the line of contact. The tiger was created primarily for the battle against numerous medium, light tanks and light anti-tank guns at distances of 500-1500m. In my opinion, the IS was a very successful machine, which I can not say about the T34 model 41 years old, T34-85, T60 or KV-1A.

[yehat]

in the tiger are not good performance characteristics, but the filling, which influenced its operation
cooling system, electrics inside the tower, binocular sight and many other things,
and made so that there are still very similar solutions on modern tanks.
The tower guidance system was particularly chic, including the azimuth given to the commander.
and the biggest tiger epic file was a cartridge ejection / loading hatch. He was too heavy.

[Encoder]

If he were the best, no one would modernize him.
This is nonsense, especially for Germany in that position.

[IRBIS]

Quote: Coder

If he were the best, no one would modernize him

But what about the best tank of the second world T-34, which was modified twice during the war? How does this fit with your statement?

Quote: Coder

This is nonsense, especially for Germany in that position.

Like the modification of the T-34 in the 1942 year for the USSR. The situation was also not the best, do not you?
The ability to carry out such modifications indicates the technical and economic capabilities of the state, with which it possesses.

[ko88]

along with panther, military historians and experts recognized the tiger as the best and most modern tanks of the second world war.

[Prohor]

For some reason, the experts of that time were of a different opinion, and nothing like "Tiger" and "Panther" appeared after 45 years.

[vladstro]

Yes, I’m always trying to imagine that we and the Germans are full allies, so that the Anglo-Saxons would do then? This is a question. But I understand the difference between Hitler’s ideologies and the same pepper, but I’ll imagine for a moment the poor Americans and the Anglo-Americans what they fought back.

[I think so]

One would still have to swim to these arrogant Saxons ... this is the main problem. And so on land there would be no equal ...

[vladstro]

they would pass through Alaska, Suvorov walked through the Alps and the Turks hollowed even like that.

[Volkhov]

The USSR and the 3 Reich were allies of American production, the war was fought against the Russians (30 million dead) and Germans (8 million), for both America planned so that the war went on longer and there were more losses.
German is only 4 Reich, and there is no Russian state yet.

[max702]

The union of Russia and Germany has been a terrible dream of the Anglo-Saxons for many centuries, and a decisive counteraction to this extends from an apolectic strike with the golden snuffbox of Emperor Paul, all further policy was carried out to prevent this union, even if we agree with the Germans today, the guaranteed Anglo-Saxon peace will come 100% arctic fox ..

[gecko]

Our lucky that the Germans because of their pedantry failed to launch all the innovations in the series

[kelevra]

By the end of the war, the Germans no longer knew what to add to the existing tanks. They believed that the heavier and armored the car, the better. But, by the end of the war, priority came to take on jet weapons and protecting tanks with multi-layer armor was already pointless !

[family tree]

Quote: kelevra

By the end of the war, the Germans no longer knew what to add to the existing tanks. They believed that the heavier and armored the car, the better. But, by the end of the war, priority came to take on jet weapons and protecting tanks with multi-layer armor was already pointless !

Series E (E-5, E-10, E-25, E-50, E-75, E-100) There were a lot of ideas and ideas, but they did not have time.

[Alexs3524]

Not a bit, but the car is still foolish

[DesToeR]

Quote: perepilka

Series E (E-5, E-10, E-25, E-50, E-75, E-100) There were a lot of ideas and ideas, but they did not have time.

It was necessary to reflect before the start of the war (world). And to launch promising samples in a series. Break in the troops, make changes to the design, staff, logistics ... And to start in the middle of World War II to design and produce completely new structures is the same thing that during a fire it is not to hand out buckets to household members, but to sit down to design a fire-prevention hose system.

Quote: IRBIS

Stop throwing slogans in a patriotic rush! The IS-2 never surpassed the "Tiger", the results of their collisions in battle serve as proof, and the small ammunition load of the IS-2 more than once played a bad joke with our tankers.

It will probably be a discovery for you that in 75 out of 100 cases, tanks did not fight tanks during WWII. And to create a new one, not a mass one, but a specific heavy tank for the remaining 25%, only very wealthy people could. IS2 was a tank of high-quality gain when breaking through the fortification strip. And they used it. And it makes no sense to compare the power of a 25kg high-explosive fragmentation projectile with an 9kg Tiger shell.

[family tree]

Quote: DesToeR

It was necessary to reflect before the start of the war (world). And to launch promising samples in a series. Break in the troops, make changes to the design, staff, logistics ... And to start in the middle of World War II to design and produce completely new structures is the same thing that during a fire it is not to hand out buckets to household members, but to sit down to design a fire-prevention hose system.

And they thought, the terms of reference for "Tiger" and "Panther" with the beginning of the Second World War, in time, very close. And ours thought, but they thought of the IS-2 and T-44 during the war, and not before it. Most of the outstanding combat vehicles appear precisely during the war and the reasons for this are quite understandable. They missed the mark on underestimating the enemy and overestimating their capabilities, this is about the Germans, for which they were shocked.

[yehat]

Yes, the Germans had nothing to evaluate! About the existence of KV-1A, T34, they could only vaguely guess from indirect data. All that they could theoretically know is the fact of not very successful QMS tests. They thought crowds would meet at PzIII, PzIV and Czech38
t26 (vickers), bt-2, bt5, bt-7, t28, t35 and all kinds of wedges. That's what they were preparing for. And the battles with these tanks led to monstrous defeats (200-300 wrecked vehicles in a few hours)
And the high command didn’t even want to hear about increased intelligence in this direction. They did not even believe Guderian, who multiplied the official data of the daily output of 1 plant by the time of his work.

[DesToeR]

Quote: perepilka

And they thought, the terms of reference for "Tiger" and "Panther" with the beginning of the Second World War, in time, very close. And ours thought, but they thought of the IS-2 and T-44 during the war, and not before it. Most of the outstanding combat vehicles appear precisely during the war and the reasons for this are quite understandable. They missed the mark on underestimating the enemy and overestimating their capabilities, this is about the Germans, for which they were shocked.

The terms of reference at the beginning of the war are strong. Then the question is: what were you going to fight with? The Soviet T-44 and IS "grew" from the KV and T-34, machines created and adopted before the war. There was unification and, most importantly, the succession of components and assemblies. This was what could guarantee that the tank would work. And what could the German designers guarantee to launch the Tiger and Panther? Yes, nichrome, until you have accumulated operating experience and the corresponding statistics. And this time. 1943 - two fundamentally new tanks for the Panzerwaffe - Tiger and Panther, 1944 - again a brand new tank - Tiger B, 1945 - E-series, Mouse. And every year the weight of the cars grew by 20 ... 70 tons !!! In the USSR, since the 30s, the weight of a medium tank is about 30 tons, the weight of heavy ones is 42-52 tons, and so on until the end of the war.

[tinibar]

Quote: Archikah

What Germans can note (then, not these) is that despite the "carpet bombing" and interruptions in the supply of components and supplies, until the very last day they worked for the country's defense. No one fell into despair and did not rush to run headlong to escape. It is significant that both telephone and mail services and all services in Germany were provided in full until the last day. Therefore, it is not surprising that they worked to bring their technology to perfection.
But even if we assume that tanks with new engines and a gun would start arriving in the tank units of the Wehrmacht in March. With thermal imagers and night sights. The amount that Germany could release at that time did not solve anything. The USSR dared all these attempts to stop its victorious march. Only it would probably cost all this more blood on our part. But the outcome was already predetermined.

Yes, and the Soviet Union was not idle - in the 45th came the T-44, and the IS-3, and the T-54 was being developed, and they continued to create new strands ... In general, it is true that both Russians and Germans to the last defended their country, and then there was no concept of REFUGEES ... REFUGEES!

[Berkut24]

installation of the engine Maybach HL 234 power 900 l. with. with fuel injection directly into the cylinders - August 1945 of the year.

With the analysts and forecasts, the Germans didn’t like the whole war.