German roots of the Armata project: rumors and reality
On May 9, the first official show of the latest Russian official took place. tank T-14 Armata. The emergence of a new combat vehicle was the occasion for a lot of discussion and debate. An interested public, while not having enough official information, is trying to establish various features of the appearance of a promising tank, and is also attempting to predict its future. Meanwhile, in the foreign press there were speculations about the possible roots of the project.
Charges and Assumptions
28 and 29 in May, the German edition of Die Welt has published several articles, which offer a curious assumption about the origin of the new Russian project. The authors of the publication, citing experts, argue that the basis of the Russian project "Armat" are ideas borrowed from German specialists. Moreover, the project, allegedly serving as a source of basic ideas, was developed several decades ago.
The most complete version of the borrowing of German developments is disclosed in the article Russischer Super-Panzer kopiert deutsche Ideen (“The Russian super-tank copies German ideas”) by Gerhard Hegmann, published on May 28. The alleged use of German ideas is mentioned in other articles of the end of last week, but the most complete information is given in this publication. Consider an unexpected version of the publication Die Welt, according to which the authors of the T-14 “Armata” project used other people's ideas and best practices.
Tank T-14 "Armata". Photo Welt.de
The author begins his publication with a reminder of the Victory Parade 9 of May, during which the Russian defense industry for the first time showed a new tank. Referring to unnamed Western experts, G. Hegmann argues that the analysis of existing photographs of the Armata tank made it possible to determine its origin. He writes that the basic concept of this combat vehicle was developed abroad, including in Germany, three decades ago.
The journalist of the Die Welt publication believes that Russian engineers used the concept previously proposed for the renewal of tank forces and the replacement of existing Leopard 2 machines as the basis for their new project. All of this can be a wake-up call for Western military and engineers. It will take about 2 years to develop a new main tank, which will be able to replace the “Leopards-15” and will be the answer to the “Armata”.
Currently, notes G. Hegmann, there is an alarming trend. The main battle tank, which can be attributed to a new generation of such equipment, has already appeared, but its creator is the Uralvagonzavod, and not the Krauss-Maffei Wegmann or Rheinmetall. An unnamed expert, whose words are given by Die Welt, believes that the Armata project should awaken Western tank builders who have been “sleeping” since the early nineties. He believes that the newest T-14 armored vehicle has tangible advantages over all foreign vehicles, including the German Leopard 2 tanks. However, he does not consider the new ideas of the Russian project to be truly new. According to this expert, all these ideas appeared and were worked out in Germany.
Further, the author of the article Russischer Super-Panzer kopiert deutsche Ideen gave some arguments in favor of his claim to borrow ideas. In his opinion, the argument in favor of this version is some of the technical features of the newest Russian tank, which are too much like a number of solutions used in old German projects.
The German journalist believes that one of the main objectives of the Armata project was to prevent the further growth of the tank's combat mass. The development of armaments affects the level of protection of armored vehicles, which ultimately leads to a significant increase in its weight. For example, during several upgrades, the German tank Leopard 2 got heavier from 55 to 63 tons. Other foreign armored vehicles also gained weight during upgrades and upgrades. Greater weight allows you to increase the security of the crew and units, but affects the mobility of technology.
G. Hegmann believes that Russian tank builders did not improve the protection of the T-14 tank by increasing the weight of the entire machine. In addition, the use of the total volume to accommodate the crew and uninhabited tower was a tool for reducing the mass of the tank. Due to this, it was possible to reduce the number of required reservations, which had a positive impact on the weight of the car.
Further, in the publication of the publication Die Welt, it is argued that the concept of an uninhabited tower and the placement of the crew in a common so-called. The armored capsule is not a novelty that first appeared in the Armata project. According to German journalists and specialists, such ideas have already been proposed and studied by the German defense industry. A few decades ago, in Germany, work was carried out on the Panzerkampfwagen 2000 project, the purpose of which was to create a promising main tank to replace the existing Leopard 2.
Project Panzerkampfwagen 2000
Indeed, in the early eighties, German specialists began work under the Panzerkampfwagen 2000 program. It was assumed that this project will create a new main tank and put it into service in the late nineties. However, for various reasons, this project did not have much success. Creating a revolutionary tank, surpassing the characteristics of all existing competitors, was associated with a host of difficulties. In addition, after the collapse of the Warsaw Pact and the collapse of the Soviet Union, the German military stopped funding work due to a sharp change in the military-political situation. In the early nineties, the Panzerkampfwagen 2000 project was closed.
After the failure of the VT1 project, which was planned to replace Leopards, in 1984, the Federal Ministry of Defense issued a new list of requirements for advanced armored vehicles. In the future, the technical task has been repeatedly adjusted in accordance with the current vision of the tank of the future. Nevertheless, some features of the requirements almost did not change. It was assumed that the promising tank Panzerkampfwagen 2000 would have a combat mass of no more than 45-50 tons, which would not limit its tactical and strategic mobility, as well as receive protection and weapons that will ensure superiority over all existing foreign tanks.
Experimental machine KRC. Photo Panzerbaer.de
In the course of theoretical studies it was found that the requirements for the weight of the structure forced to abandon the classical layout of the hull and tower. To fulfill all the requirements, it was necessary to abandon the habitable tower, as well as significantly reduce the size of the habitable volume. Only in this case it was possible to provide an acceptable weight machine. Against this background, there was a proposal to place the crew in the hull and isolate it from all elements of weapons. The latter in this case could be placed in a relatively small tower.
The latest version of the requirements for the advanced tank Panzerkampfwagen 2000, which appeared in the late eighties, meant reducing the crew to two people (driver and commander-gunner), mm 140 caliber gun, digital fire control system, modern communications with the ability to integrate into general military systems management, etc.
In 1990, German specialists built and tested two prototypes called the VT2000. These experimental machines were designed to test various aspects of the operation of promising tanks, built to meet existing requirements. One of the main questions studied during the tests was the principal possibility of controlling a tank with two people.
The first appeared prototype under the symbol KRC (KampfRaumContainer). On the chassis of the serial tank Leopard 2 installed a special two-seat tower with a set of electronic equipment. Both crew jobs were equipped with chassis aggregation control systems, as well as screens and other equipment for outputting the signal from optical-electronic devices. On the roof of the tower was located a column with various video cameras, thermal imagers and other equipment designed to monitor the environment. In addition, both tank crews had a set of periscopic instruments. No weapons were envisaged, since the KRC machine was intended solely to determine the prospects of the chosen crew.
Tests have shown that two people are fully capable of coping with the operation of a KRC machine in various conditions. Nevertheless, such a reduction in the crew was considered inexpedient. It made it possible to reduce the size of the habitable volume and thereby simplify the design of the entire tank, however, this significantly increased the load on the tank crews. The commander and mechanic, as the testers considered, could have had serious problems with performing all their tasks, especially in a combat situation.
Experimental KSC machine. Photo Panzerbaer.de
Soon the KSC prototype (KampfSystemContainer) appeared, which had a similar architecture. At the same time, KSC equipped the tower with three crew seats and a set of different equipment. The load on each tanker decreased, which allowed to speak about the development of a promising tank Panzerkampfwagen 2000 with a crew of three people.
Shortly after the completion of the KRC and KSC prototype testing, the project was closed. The military-political situation in Europe has seriously changed, which is why the Bundeswehr decided to stop the development of a promising tank. In the future, attempts were made to create a replacement for the "Leopard-2", but so far they have not led to any noticeable results.
The two prototypes, tested since 1990, were designed to explore the prospects for accommodating the entire crew in a common habitable compartment. Other features of the promising Panzerkampfwagen 2000 tank, allegedly borrowed by Russian engineers, remained at the stage of preliminary calculations and studies. Thus, G. Hegmann and the experts to whom he refers seem to be trying to compare the German project, remaining on paper, and the Russian tanks, which have already been put to the test.
Project Standardpanzer C
It is important to bear in mind that during the Panzerkampfwagen 2000 project, the main work related to the uninhabited tower and the crew’s single capsule ended at the preliminary design stage. To justify the German tank building, it must be said that the Bundeswehr could really get a new tank with a revolutionary new layout. A similar project appeared in the late fifties.
In 1957, Germany and France agreed to jointly create a new main tank, which received the symbol Standardpanzer (“Standard Tank”) or Europanzer (“European Tank”). In 58, Italy joined the creation of the armored vehicle. For various reasons, over time, the project became only German, because other countries ceased their participation in it. As a result, three German companies created three versions of the draft of the new tank. For example, Porsche and Rheinmetall presented Standardpanzer A and Standardpanzer B projects to the competition. However, the Borgward Standardpanzer C project is of the greatest interest.
The general scheme of the tank Standardpanzer C company Borgward
The lack of serious experience in the creation of tanks did not prevent the engineers of Borgward from proposing a more than daring project with a mass of original and unusual ideas, which even now can surprise specialists and amateurs of military equipment. It is noteworthy that with some of its features, the Standardpanzer C project is much more similar to the Russian T-14 than the Panzerkampfwagen 2000 project mentioned by the Die Welt publication.
Draft Standardpanzer C (internal designation of the company RR EP-1) proposed the use of an unusual tank layout. In the front, it was proposed to place four six-cylinder engines with a total power up to 1500 hp at once. In this case, the transmission units were located next to the engines, along the sides and in the stern. Since it was decided to leave the drive wheels in the rear part of the hull, two cardan shafts passed along the sides. Some transmission gearboxes were proposed to be placed in front of the hull, the rest - in the stern.
Originality differed and chassis. It included five dual support rollers with a hydropneumatic suspension on each side. According to some reports, the tank Standardpanzer C had a combined chassis. Developed rubber bands of road wheels, as well as a control system for the front and rear rollers, made this car wheel-tracked. In this case, the transmission unit should have included units for transmitting torque to the rollers.
In the middle part of the hull a place was provided for an uninhabited tower with an 90-mm cannon. All operations for loading, targeting and other maintenance weapons were to be carried out by automatic crew commands. In particular, an automatic loader with a vertical placement of ammunition in the cells of the ring conveyor was proposed. The original layout of the fighting compartment allowed to place almost all the necessary units below the roof of the case. Only a small cylinder (the roof of the fighting compartment) and a rectangular casing with a tool rose above it.
Behind the fighting compartment, engineers at Borgward positioned a capsule to accommodate three tank crews. At their workplaces, a complete set of the most modern equipment was provided to monitor the situation, search for targets and control weapons. Of particular note are the advantages associated with a similar arrangement of habitable volume. To hit the crew when hit in frontal projection, the enemy projectile had to pierce the frontal armor, engines and combat compartment. Thus, the Standardpan C tank (RR EP-1) could boast an extremely high level of crew protection when attacking from the front corners.
In 1959, the customer has determined which projects will continue to exist and will be embodied in the metal. Orders for the construction of pilot tanks received the company Porsche (Standardpanzer A) and Rheinmetall (Standardpanzer B). The project of the Borgward company was considered too complicated for construction and mass exploitation in the army. As a result, the RR EP-1 project remained on paper. In 1961, Borgward went bankrupt, leading to the cessation of work in all areas, primarily in the automotive industry. The further fate of the design documentation for the Standardpanzer C project is unknown.
Verdict
The Panzerkampfwagen 2000 project, which allegedly served as a source of ideas for the development of the Russian T-14 tank, stopped at the early stages, when all technical solutions were only formed and worked out at the level of calculations. In addition, several decades before this project appeared in Germany, a project was already created with similar layout solutions. Thus, it is incorrect to call the Armata project built on the basis of German ideas borrowed from the hypothetical Panzerkampfwagen 2000 tank.
As for the Standardpanzer project in the Borgward version, it cannot be considered a “source of inspiration” for Russian engineers. The reasons for this are the same as in the case of the Panzerkampfwagen 2000: the project stopped at the earliest stages and therefore can hardly be considered a prototype or a precursor of something. As far as can be judged from the available data, the staff of Borgward identified only some of the main features of their project, but did not start developing full-fledged technical documentation for the construction of the prototype.
In addition, it must be remembered that the Russian school of tank design has extensive experience in the development and construction of tanks of various classes. Studies of the prospects of a deserted combat compartment and the deployment of the crew in the total volume began in the late fifties. Various variants of such equipment were worked out, but for various objective reasons such equipment basically remained at the project development stage.
The general scheme of the medium tank development VNII-100. Figure Otvaga2004.ru
It is known that in 1959, the VNII-100 proposed a tank with an uninhabited turret and a crew capsule. Three tankers were placed in the front of the hull under the protection of powerful armor, the middle part of the hull was given under the uninhabited automated fighting compartment, and the engine was located in the stern. Such an average tank could have a combat mass at the level of 36 tons and carry 115-mm cannon U-5TS with 40 ammunition shots in automated styling.
In the future, domestic engineers have repeatedly proposed similar projects. For example, in the nineties, an experienced tank, the 195 Object, was built and tested. According to reports, this machine in its layout resembled the current tank Armata T-14, but had some differences. For example, "Object 195" was equipped with a weapon caliber 152 mm. The gun was located in an uninhabited automated turret, isolated from the crew.
The prototype of the tank "Object 195". Photo by Andrei-bt.livejournal.com
Thus, the newest Russian T-14 tank based on the Armat’s unified armored platform should be considered entirely domestic development based on experience. The Russian tank construction school has a great deal of experience in creating armored vehicles and hardly needs borrowing other people's ideas, especially those taken from projects older than a few decades.
The version of the “German wake” in this case turns out to be nothing more than an exaggerated sensation that appeared against the background of the general rush around the first tank of a truly new generation. In addition, the reports of the foreign press about the possible borrowing of ideas lead us to recall the old proverb, according to which a victory, unlike a defeat, always has a mass of fathers. Only in this case, not all the supposed “fathers” are really such, no matter how much they want it.
Based on:
http://welt.de/print/die_welt/wirtschaft/article141573502/Russischer-Super-Panzer-kopiert-deutsche-Ideen.html
http://panzerbaer.de/
http://armor.kiev.ua/
http://vestnik-rm.ru/
http://militaryfactory.com/
http://militaryparitet.com/
http://shushpanzer-ru.livejournal.com/
Charges and Assumptions
28 and 29 in May, the German edition of Die Welt has published several articles, which offer a curious assumption about the origin of the new Russian project. The authors of the publication, citing experts, argue that the basis of the Russian project "Armat" are ideas borrowed from German specialists. Moreover, the project, allegedly serving as a source of basic ideas, was developed several decades ago.
The most complete version of the borrowing of German developments is disclosed in the article Russischer Super-Panzer kopiert deutsche Ideen (“The Russian super-tank copies German ideas”) by Gerhard Hegmann, published on May 28. The alleged use of German ideas is mentioned in other articles of the end of last week, but the most complete information is given in this publication. Consider an unexpected version of the publication Die Welt, according to which the authors of the T-14 “Armata” project used other people's ideas and best practices.
Tank T-14 "Armata". Photo Welt.de
The author begins his publication with a reminder of the Victory Parade 9 of May, during which the Russian defense industry for the first time showed a new tank. Referring to unnamed Western experts, G. Hegmann argues that the analysis of existing photographs of the Armata tank made it possible to determine its origin. He writes that the basic concept of this combat vehicle was developed abroad, including in Germany, three decades ago.
The journalist of the Die Welt publication believes that Russian engineers used the concept previously proposed for the renewal of tank forces and the replacement of existing Leopard 2 machines as the basis for their new project. All of this can be a wake-up call for Western military and engineers. It will take about 2 years to develop a new main tank, which will be able to replace the “Leopards-15” and will be the answer to the “Armata”.
Currently, notes G. Hegmann, there is an alarming trend. The main battle tank, which can be attributed to a new generation of such equipment, has already appeared, but its creator is the Uralvagonzavod, and not the Krauss-Maffei Wegmann or Rheinmetall. An unnamed expert, whose words are given by Die Welt, believes that the Armata project should awaken Western tank builders who have been “sleeping” since the early nineties. He believes that the newest T-14 armored vehicle has tangible advantages over all foreign vehicles, including the German Leopard 2 tanks. However, he does not consider the new ideas of the Russian project to be truly new. According to this expert, all these ideas appeared and were worked out in Germany.
Further, the author of the article Russischer Super-Panzer kopiert deutsche Ideen gave some arguments in favor of his claim to borrow ideas. In his opinion, the argument in favor of this version is some of the technical features of the newest Russian tank, which are too much like a number of solutions used in old German projects.
The German journalist believes that one of the main objectives of the Armata project was to prevent the further growth of the tank's combat mass. The development of armaments affects the level of protection of armored vehicles, which ultimately leads to a significant increase in its weight. For example, during several upgrades, the German tank Leopard 2 got heavier from 55 to 63 tons. Other foreign armored vehicles also gained weight during upgrades and upgrades. Greater weight allows you to increase the security of the crew and units, but affects the mobility of technology.
G. Hegmann believes that Russian tank builders did not improve the protection of the T-14 tank by increasing the weight of the entire machine. In addition, the use of the total volume to accommodate the crew and uninhabited tower was a tool for reducing the mass of the tank. Due to this, it was possible to reduce the number of required reservations, which had a positive impact on the weight of the car.
Further, in the publication of the publication Die Welt, it is argued that the concept of an uninhabited tower and the placement of the crew in a common so-called. The armored capsule is not a novelty that first appeared in the Armata project. According to German journalists and specialists, such ideas have already been proposed and studied by the German defense industry. A few decades ago, in Germany, work was carried out on the Panzerkampfwagen 2000 project, the purpose of which was to create a promising main tank to replace the existing Leopard 2.
Project Panzerkampfwagen 2000
Indeed, in the early eighties, German specialists began work under the Panzerkampfwagen 2000 program. It was assumed that this project will create a new main tank and put it into service in the late nineties. However, for various reasons, this project did not have much success. Creating a revolutionary tank, surpassing the characteristics of all existing competitors, was associated with a host of difficulties. In addition, after the collapse of the Warsaw Pact and the collapse of the Soviet Union, the German military stopped funding work due to a sharp change in the military-political situation. In the early nineties, the Panzerkampfwagen 2000 project was closed.
After the failure of the VT1 project, which was planned to replace Leopards, in 1984, the Federal Ministry of Defense issued a new list of requirements for advanced armored vehicles. In the future, the technical task has been repeatedly adjusted in accordance with the current vision of the tank of the future. Nevertheless, some features of the requirements almost did not change. It was assumed that the promising tank Panzerkampfwagen 2000 would have a combat mass of no more than 45-50 tons, which would not limit its tactical and strategic mobility, as well as receive protection and weapons that will ensure superiority over all existing foreign tanks.
Experimental machine KRC. Photo Panzerbaer.de
In the course of theoretical studies it was found that the requirements for the weight of the structure forced to abandon the classical layout of the hull and tower. To fulfill all the requirements, it was necessary to abandon the habitable tower, as well as significantly reduce the size of the habitable volume. Only in this case it was possible to provide an acceptable weight machine. Against this background, there was a proposal to place the crew in the hull and isolate it from all elements of weapons. The latter in this case could be placed in a relatively small tower.
The latest version of the requirements for the advanced tank Panzerkampfwagen 2000, which appeared in the late eighties, meant reducing the crew to two people (driver and commander-gunner), mm 140 caliber gun, digital fire control system, modern communications with the ability to integrate into general military systems management, etc.
In 1990, German specialists built and tested two prototypes called the VT2000. These experimental machines were designed to test various aspects of the operation of promising tanks, built to meet existing requirements. One of the main questions studied during the tests was the principal possibility of controlling a tank with two people.
The first appeared prototype under the symbol KRC (KampfRaumContainer). On the chassis of the serial tank Leopard 2 installed a special two-seat tower with a set of electronic equipment. Both crew jobs were equipped with chassis aggregation control systems, as well as screens and other equipment for outputting the signal from optical-electronic devices. On the roof of the tower was located a column with various video cameras, thermal imagers and other equipment designed to monitor the environment. In addition, both tank crews had a set of periscopic instruments. No weapons were envisaged, since the KRC machine was intended solely to determine the prospects of the chosen crew.
Tests have shown that two people are fully capable of coping with the operation of a KRC machine in various conditions. Nevertheless, such a reduction in the crew was considered inexpedient. It made it possible to reduce the size of the habitable volume and thereby simplify the design of the entire tank, however, this significantly increased the load on the tank crews. The commander and mechanic, as the testers considered, could have had serious problems with performing all their tasks, especially in a combat situation.
Experimental KSC machine. Photo Panzerbaer.de
Soon the KSC prototype (KampfSystemContainer) appeared, which had a similar architecture. At the same time, KSC equipped the tower with three crew seats and a set of different equipment. The load on each tanker decreased, which allowed to speak about the development of a promising tank Panzerkampfwagen 2000 with a crew of three people.
Shortly after the completion of the KRC and KSC prototype testing, the project was closed. The military-political situation in Europe has seriously changed, which is why the Bundeswehr decided to stop the development of a promising tank. In the future, attempts were made to create a replacement for the "Leopard-2", but so far they have not led to any noticeable results.
The two prototypes, tested since 1990, were designed to explore the prospects for accommodating the entire crew in a common habitable compartment. Other features of the promising Panzerkampfwagen 2000 tank, allegedly borrowed by Russian engineers, remained at the stage of preliminary calculations and studies. Thus, G. Hegmann and the experts to whom he refers seem to be trying to compare the German project, remaining on paper, and the Russian tanks, which have already been put to the test.
Project Standardpanzer C
It is important to bear in mind that during the Panzerkampfwagen 2000 project, the main work related to the uninhabited tower and the crew’s single capsule ended at the preliminary design stage. To justify the German tank building, it must be said that the Bundeswehr could really get a new tank with a revolutionary new layout. A similar project appeared in the late fifties.
In 1957, Germany and France agreed to jointly create a new main tank, which received the symbol Standardpanzer (“Standard Tank”) or Europanzer (“European Tank”). In 58, Italy joined the creation of the armored vehicle. For various reasons, over time, the project became only German, because other countries ceased their participation in it. As a result, three German companies created three versions of the draft of the new tank. For example, Porsche and Rheinmetall presented Standardpanzer A and Standardpanzer B projects to the competition. However, the Borgward Standardpanzer C project is of the greatest interest.
The general scheme of the tank Standardpanzer C company Borgward
The lack of serious experience in the creation of tanks did not prevent the engineers of Borgward from proposing a more than daring project with a mass of original and unusual ideas, which even now can surprise specialists and amateurs of military equipment. It is noteworthy that with some of its features, the Standardpanzer C project is much more similar to the Russian T-14 than the Panzerkampfwagen 2000 project mentioned by the Die Welt publication.
Draft Standardpanzer C (internal designation of the company RR EP-1) proposed the use of an unusual tank layout. In the front, it was proposed to place four six-cylinder engines with a total power up to 1500 hp at once. In this case, the transmission units were located next to the engines, along the sides and in the stern. Since it was decided to leave the drive wheels in the rear part of the hull, two cardan shafts passed along the sides. Some transmission gearboxes were proposed to be placed in front of the hull, the rest - in the stern.
Originality differed and chassis. It included five dual support rollers with a hydropneumatic suspension on each side. According to some reports, the tank Standardpanzer C had a combined chassis. Developed rubber bands of road wheels, as well as a control system for the front and rear rollers, made this car wheel-tracked. In this case, the transmission unit should have included units for transmitting torque to the rollers.
In the middle part of the hull a place was provided for an uninhabited tower with an 90-mm cannon. All operations for loading, targeting and other maintenance weapons were to be carried out by automatic crew commands. In particular, an automatic loader with a vertical placement of ammunition in the cells of the ring conveyor was proposed. The original layout of the fighting compartment allowed to place almost all the necessary units below the roof of the case. Only a small cylinder (the roof of the fighting compartment) and a rectangular casing with a tool rose above it.
Behind the fighting compartment, engineers at Borgward positioned a capsule to accommodate three tank crews. At their workplaces, a complete set of the most modern equipment was provided to monitor the situation, search for targets and control weapons. Of particular note are the advantages associated with a similar arrangement of habitable volume. To hit the crew when hit in frontal projection, the enemy projectile had to pierce the frontal armor, engines and combat compartment. Thus, the Standardpan C tank (RR EP-1) could boast an extremely high level of crew protection when attacking from the front corners.
In 1959, the customer has determined which projects will continue to exist and will be embodied in the metal. Orders for the construction of pilot tanks received the company Porsche (Standardpanzer A) and Rheinmetall (Standardpanzer B). The project of the Borgward company was considered too complicated for construction and mass exploitation in the army. As a result, the RR EP-1 project remained on paper. In 1961, Borgward went bankrupt, leading to the cessation of work in all areas, primarily in the automotive industry. The further fate of the design documentation for the Standardpanzer C project is unknown.
Verdict
The Panzerkampfwagen 2000 project, which allegedly served as a source of ideas for the development of the Russian T-14 tank, stopped at the early stages, when all technical solutions were only formed and worked out at the level of calculations. In addition, several decades before this project appeared in Germany, a project was already created with similar layout solutions. Thus, it is incorrect to call the Armata project built on the basis of German ideas borrowed from the hypothetical Panzerkampfwagen 2000 tank.
As for the Standardpanzer project in the Borgward version, it cannot be considered a “source of inspiration” for Russian engineers. The reasons for this are the same as in the case of the Panzerkampfwagen 2000: the project stopped at the earliest stages and therefore can hardly be considered a prototype or a precursor of something. As far as can be judged from the available data, the staff of Borgward identified only some of the main features of their project, but did not start developing full-fledged technical documentation for the construction of the prototype.
In addition, it must be remembered that the Russian school of tank design has extensive experience in the development and construction of tanks of various classes. Studies of the prospects of a deserted combat compartment and the deployment of the crew in the total volume began in the late fifties. Various variants of such equipment were worked out, but for various objective reasons such equipment basically remained at the project development stage.
The general scheme of the medium tank development VNII-100. Figure Otvaga2004.ru
It is known that in 1959, the VNII-100 proposed a tank with an uninhabited turret and a crew capsule. Three tankers were placed in the front of the hull under the protection of powerful armor, the middle part of the hull was given under the uninhabited automated fighting compartment, and the engine was located in the stern. Such an average tank could have a combat mass at the level of 36 tons and carry 115-mm cannon U-5TS with 40 ammunition shots in automated styling.
In the future, domestic engineers have repeatedly proposed similar projects. For example, in the nineties, an experienced tank, the 195 Object, was built and tested. According to reports, this machine in its layout resembled the current tank Armata T-14, but had some differences. For example, "Object 195" was equipped with a weapon caliber 152 mm. The gun was located in an uninhabited automated turret, isolated from the crew.
The prototype of the tank "Object 195". Photo by Andrei-bt.livejournal.com
Thus, the newest Russian T-14 tank based on the Armat’s unified armored platform should be considered entirely domestic development based on experience. The Russian tank construction school has a great deal of experience in creating armored vehicles and hardly needs borrowing other people's ideas, especially those taken from projects older than a few decades.
The version of the “German wake” in this case turns out to be nothing more than an exaggerated sensation that appeared against the background of the general rush around the first tank of a truly new generation. In addition, the reports of the foreign press about the possible borrowing of ideas lead us to recall the old proverb, according to which a victory, unlike a defeat, always has a mass of fathers. Only in this case, not all the supposed “fathers” are really such, no matter how much they want it.
Based on:
http://welt.de/print/die_welt/wirtschaft/article141573502/Russischer-Super-Panzer-kopiert-deutsche-Ideen.html
http://panzerbaer.de/
http://armor.kiev.ua/
http://vestnik-rm.ru/
http://militaryfactory.com/
http://militaryparitet.com/
http://shushpanzer-ru.livejournal.com/
Information