Inspiration

[GTX]

now this seems to be a real project and my point of interest is

"the most interesting feature of the "Rutscher" would be its cleverly chosen main armament- two 80mm Rheinmetall Panzerabwehr-Wurfkanone PAW-600 8H63 high/low pressure guns. These were recoilless cannons according to the high/low pressure principle in which the ignition occurs in a high pressure cylinder. By means of a sophisticated nozzle disk, the ignited gas then streams into a low pressure cylinder. Once a certain pressure is reached, the fin-stabilized shell frees itself from the cartridge and exits the smooth-bore barrel. During firing tests, ranges of 2,000 meters were achieved with a muzzle velocity of 550 mps. "

of which I didn't understand much . Why two barrels ? How does the system work ?

My information says they weren't actually recoilless cannons.  The rounds were fin stabilised with shaped charges and only had an effective range of around 700m.  Here is a picture of the original mock-up:



I agree with John in that the 2 barrels was probably mostly based on getting the highest possible rate of fire.  Remember that the Rutscher was conceived around late '43/'44 and thus things were starting to go against the Germans, especially on the Russian front where a high rate of fire would be useful.

Regards,

Greg

[r16]

thanks for the answers .

[Maverick]

Over on Modeling Madness, there's this rather spiffy Trump E-10 in a sort of winterised Berlin Brigade camo.

http://www.modelingmadness.com/others/shows/silverwings07/DSCN0158.JPG

Regards,

Mav

[GTX]

Nice.

Regards,

Greg

[r16]

regarding the system of high/low pressure I found this thread on

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=54137

[wolfik]

cool and inspiring!!!

[ysi_maniac]

Chapeau!

[lancer]

I like it!

[r16]

there was this German site I had mentioned on this thread . Well I have been there again and found the Ratte undergoing an engine change . Afterwards it will be going chuff chuff .

http://www.nexusboard.net/showthread.php?siteid=6365&threadid=296742


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[r16]

being busy with a couple of things , I hadn't finished downloading it and come across a proposal for India in 1954 , any English source for it ? At least the gun caliber would be nice to know .

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[r16]

and then this ... Naturally they are what iffing.

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[r16]

Panzer IX and Panzer X only existed as projects on drawing boards.  Although, there is no real blueprints showing the realistic look of both vehicles. PzKpfw X was to be wider but lower than Maus and was to be surely armed with 88mm or even 128mm gun. Both designs were very advanced and modern including many features which can be found in modern tanks of today. According to the latest research it appears that those two modern looking tanks were not even considered by the designers but instead were  propaganda sketches published in the "Signal" magazine in 1944, to misinform the Allies about the German tank development.

from achtungpanzer I guess


ı presume the gun is the one on the Koenigstiger , then the dimensions become 11.8 m long and 6.8 wide .And the arbitrarily drawn purple box will be 8,4 x 5,2 x 2.6 m , a volume of 113.5 cubic meters , enough floatation for a double hulled tank which can be considered shellproof against 1942 guns , 88/56 being the benchmark . Now where do they plan to use it , I don't have the slightest idea but the Japanese had torpedo carrying light tanks in 1944/45 .

so I hereby apply for the patent for the invention of antitank torpedoes .

ı challenge any armour expert on this planet to disprove that it is an amphibious combat vehicle


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[Maverick]

r16,

I seriously doubt that Panzer would have had any amphibious capability.  I believe it is either a PzKpfw X or XI, both designed as heavy tanks and hardly the type to be considered for amphibious warfare.  Also missing is any sort of propulsion system (i doubt the tracks would suffice) and the overall shape of the vehicle wouldn't be condusive to seaworthiness, the sloping hull more than likely burying the thing under the first wave.

Regards,

Mav

[r16]

germans designed their tanks to go under the surface , the 20 or so PzKw IIIs that crossed Bug on June 22 , 1941 could hardly swim.

[Mossie]

Like Mav says, there's no propulsion allowing it to swim, but I see no reason why it couldn't cross deeper rivers, possibly even totally submerged for short periods.  There's no snorkelling gear, but this could be attatched seperately.  I think the main thing going against it is it's weight, it looks like a heavy beast & if it gets bogged down in silt, it's buggered.  As a crew member, there's no way in the world you'd get me to cross water without the hatches open ready to jump out!