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GERMAIMV'S PANTHER TANK

The VK 20.01 (K). designed by Krupp for a maximum speed of 56 km/hr, had a leaf spring suspension with six 700 mm diameter roadwheels.

Having been frustrated in his attempts to get Daimler-Benz and Krupp to design tanks with torsion bar suspensions, Kniepkamp turned to M.A.N. early in 1940. M.A.N. was al-ready cooperating with Wa Pruef 6 on the design of the VK 9.01. Layout drawings of the VK 20.01 (M) with a Schachtell-aufwerk cushioned by torsion bars had been completed by M.A.N. by 10 October 1940. Due to the interference caused by mounts for the steering gear and the motor, torsion bars were replaced by coil springs on the first and last stations.

M.A.N. was awarded a contract by Wa Pruef 6 to design an improved version, the VK 20.02 (M). By February 1941. M.A.N. had completed preliminary drawings for fitting the SMG 91 transmission designed by Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen to their Dreiradien-Lenkgetriebe (triple radius steering gear) for installation in their VK 20.02 (M).

On 18 August 1941. M.A.N. reported the following status for their new tank designs: The VK 20.01 (M) chassis was already being assembled but still needed the missing transmissions in order to be completed. The three developmental VK 20.02 (M) chassis and 12 experimental VK 20.02 (M) chassis that had been contracted by Wa Pruef 6 were still being designed.

The VK 20.02 (M) was to have a Schachtellaufwerk with six 880 mm diameter roadwheels. a torsion bar suspension. and 474 mm wide Kgs 63/474/110 tracks. The automotive drive train consisted of a Maybach HL 90 motor, a Maybach OG 32 6 16 or Zahnradfabrik SMG 91 transmission and a M.A.N. Dreiradien-Lenkgetriebe (triple radius steering gear). Armor protection for the hull consisted of 50 mm front plates, 40 mm side and rear plates and 14.5 mm plates for the roof and belly.

In response to the reports from the Eastern Front on the success of sloped armor on Russian tanks. M.A.N. had rede-signed the hull for the VK 20.02 (M) with sloping armor (Draw-

deliver components for the suspension and steering gear for the three VK 23.01 (K) developmental chassis was July 1942. The same components for the six armored experimental VK 23.01 (K) were to be delivered in September 1942 The first VK 23.01 (K) developmental chassis with torsion bar suspension. outfitted for total submersion, etc., could be deliv-ered. at the earliest. about 1 October 1942.

In designing their VK 23.01 (K). Krupp contacted Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen and Maybach on 19 September 1941 in order to obtain the latest installation drawings of transmissions for the Dreiradien-Lenkgetriebe (triple radius steering gear) designed by M.A.N. On 24 September 1941. Maybach provided copies of the requested installation draw-Ing for the Maybach OG 32 616 transmission for mounting in the VK 23.01 (K). Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen responded on 27 September 1941 that due to problems they had de-cided to totally abandon the design of the SMG 91 transmission and. as quickly as possible. complete the design of an electrical magnetic-clutch transmission EVP 70. They still did not have finał installation drawings of the electro-magnetic EVP 70 transmission for fitting to the Maybach HL 90 motor.

In a report written in January 1942. Woelfert related how the design and completion of the VK 20.02 (K) had frequently been delayed due to the following reasons: Initially a 5 cm tur ret was specified with an inner turret ring diameter of 1350 mm withouta traversing floor. Then, on 10 October 1941, a 5 cm turret with an inner turret ring diameter of 1400 mm was reęuired to allow the option of mounting a 7.5 cm gun turret. Fmally, the 7,5 cm Einheitsturm (standard turret) with 7.5 cm Kw.K.44 was specified, at first with an inner turret ring diameter of 1560 mm, later increased to 1600. As a result of continuously increasing the turret ring diameter, the hull width was expanded from 1600 to 1650 mm and the hull (originally 400 mm shorter) had to be repeatedly lengthened. Also, the ammunition storage was fundamentally changed. Along with this came the requirement to stopę the superstructure walls, especially the driver's front piąte. At the end of December 1941, the contract for design and fabrication of the six VK 20.02 (K) was hatted to allow accelerated completion ofother tasks.

Also in December 1941. the contracts for the VK 23.01 (K) with torsion bars were canceled so that other urgent design work would be quickly completed.

1.1.3 VK 20 SERIES FROM M.A.N.

CHAPTER 1: DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT

M.A.N was selected by Kniepkamp to design the VK 20.02 (M) with a torsion bar suspension cushioning six 880 mm diameter roadwheels on 474 mm wide tracks.

ing No. Tu 13947 dated 25 November 1941). The hull front, still 50 mm thick, was set at an angle of 55 degrees. The 40 mm thick upper hull side was set at 40 degrees. But. the 40 mm thick lower hull side remained at 0 degrees. The 40 mm thick hull rear was canted at an angle of 30 degrees. These were already the angles later utilized in designing the Pan-ther.

No details have been found to datę on the immediate predecessor of the Panther, the VK 24.01 (M). M.A.N. men-tioned it in the following postwar response to the ąuestion on what influenced the design of the Panther: Previous steps were design studies conducted under the names VK 20.01, VK24.01 and VK 30.01. Based on requirements estabhshed by Wa Pruef 6, they were reworked to stopę the walls like the Russian design.

1.1.4 POjJIJCAL INTERFERENCE ENPS THE V.K29 SERIES

In a meeting on 17 December 1941 with Dr Mueller (Krupp’s representative in Berlin). Oberst Fichtner (head of Wa Pruef 6) expressed his position on tank development as follows: Agamst the advice of Wa Pruef 6. higher authority had de-cided that the weight class for the futurę tank should be 30 tons and not the 24 ton tank proposed by Wa Pruef 6. Fichtner was opposed to this decision. In his opinion, time woutd be tost sińce the 30 ton tank had yet to be developed, whereas development ofthe 24 ton tank was almost completed. Also, the heavier 30 ton tank woutd result in a lower number pro-duced. Not all assembly firms were in a position to manufac-ture a 30 ton tank and larger facilities were also needed In regard to tactical employment, engineer bridges couldn't sup-port the weight of a 30 ton tank. Therefore, a 30 ton tank depended on submerged river Crossing, when it was known that this design problem hadn't been satisfactorily solved. Wa Pruef 6 had been ignored and Reichsminister Todt had de-clared that a 30 ton tank must quickly be developed and pro-duced.

Armor Layout for the VK 20.02 (M) as proposed by M A N in their Drawing No. Tu 13947 dated 25 November 1941. These same angles and shape were later adopted by M.A.N. for their Panther design

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