WWII German Erluwa XXIXc
Discussion
Never heard of that name. There was a Panzer III called a Tauchpanzer or more correctly Tauchfarhig or diving tank.
Tauchpanzer III, PzKpfw III (Tauchfähig)6: "Diving tank." 168 PzKpfw III Ausf F, PzKpfw III Ausf G, PzKpfw III Ausf H, and PzBefWg III Ausf Es were converted from June to October 1940 for Operation Seeloewe (Sealion, invasion of Britain) by the 18th Panzer Regiment of the 18th Panzer Division. The air intakes were closed by rubber seals and the exhausts had non-return valves installed. An inflatable rubber seal was placed around turret ring. The hull MG and commander's cupola had rubber covers installed. There was a pump that removed excess water that got inside tank. When under water it would get air from a 59'7/18 m7 long and 8" diameter hose which was attached to a float that on later models had a radio antenna. It could operate to a depth of 49'7/15 m7 for around 20 minutes. Explosive charges were installed to the seals to be set off to remove the seals when tank reached dry land. A command vessel would communicate to the submerged tank via the radio to guide it.
In August 1940 the first prototypes were tested. A landing test was done in late 1940 with a crane ship called "Viper" and the small freighter "Hans Herbert". They were fitted with ramps to allow the tanks into the water.
Four sections of volunteers from existing regiments were trained on the Island of Sylt.
After the cancellation of Seeloewe the Tauchpanzers were moved to training areas in early 1941. Tanks were modified by having an 11' long and 3" diameter steel snorkel installed over the commander's cupola which replaced the flexible tube. In April 1941 all Tauchpanzers of Panzer Regiment 18 were sent to Eberswalde and diving exercises were carried out at Werbelliner Lake.
Used in crossing River Bug on June 22, 1941 by Panzer Regiment 18.7 After this the tanks were used by both the 6th and 18th Panzer Divisions.
Four Tauchpanzer-Abteilung (A to D) were formed.
Some Tiger tanks also had extended engine snorkels for deep wading capability.
Tauchpanzer III, PzKpfw III (Tauchfähig)6: "Diving tank." 168 PzKpfw III Ausf F, PzKpfw III Ausf G, PzKpfw III Ausf H, and PzBefWg III Ausf Es were converted from June to October 1940 for Operation Seeloewe (Sealion, invasion of Britain) by the 18th Panzer Regiment of the 18th Panzer Division. The air intakes were closed by rubber seals and the exhausts had non-return valves installed. An inflatable rubber seal was placed around turret ring. The hull MG and commander's cupola had rubber covers installed. There was a pump that removed excess water that got inside tank. When under water it would get air from a 59'7/18 m7 long and 8" diameter hose which was attached to a float that on later models had a radio antenna. It could operate to a depth of 49'7/15 m7 for around 20 minutes. Explosive charges were installed to the seals to be set off to remove the seals when tank reached dry land. A command vessel would communicate to the submerged tank via the radio to guide it.
In August 1940 the first prototypes were tested. A landing test was done in late 1940 with a crane ship called "Viper" and the small freighter "Hans Herbert". They were fitted with ramps to allow the tanks into the water.
Four sections of volunteers from existing regiments were trained on the Island of Sylt.
After the cancellation of Seeloewe the Tauchpanzers were moved to training areas in early 1941. Tanks were modified by having an 11' long and 3" diameter steel snorkel installed over the commander's cupola which replaced the flexible tube. In April 1941 all Tauchpanzers of Panzer Regiment 18 were sent to Eberswalde and diving exercises were carried out at Werbelliner Lake.
Used in crossing River Bug on June 22, 1941 by Panzer Regiment 18.7 After this the tanks were used by both the 6th and 18th Panzer Divisions.
Four Tauchpanzer-Abteilung (A to D) were formed.
Some Tiger tanks also had extended engine snorkels for deep wading capability.
Simpo Two said:
Maybe write to the Times and ask for more info/their source?
They had a small article and a colour drawing. This is all I can find online.http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/sitesearch.do...
Simpo Two said:
Nice idea for Thunderbirds! It might be technically possible but the result would be so compromised it would perform poorly in all three situations so no use for warfare IMHO.
But it would have crippled UK moral if they crossed the Channel and were fighting land battles on UK mainland, plus it may have given Germany the foothold they needed to invade as Britain was prepared for sea and air assaults rather than tanks rolling up the beach unexpected from under the sea. Tsippy said:
But it would have crippled UK moral if they crossed the Channel and were fighting land battles on UK mainland, plus it may have given Germany the foothold they needed to invade as Britain was prepared for sea and air assaults rather than tanks rolling up the beach unexpected from under the sea.
Germany never gained air superiority, the pre-condition for invasion. And if a few underwater tanks did gat ashore, what would happen when they ran out of petrol and ammo? Germany was never geared up for amphibious warfare - witness the rag-tag fleet of old barges!Sadly the 3-in-1 tank, even if it had worked, would have been a low number, high risk gimmick.
Edited by Simpo Two on Wednesday 1st December 10:51
Simpo Two said:
Nice idea for Thunderbirds! It might be technically possible but the result would be so compromised it would perform poorly in all three situations so no use for warfare IMHO.
Gerry Anderson already covered it.I remember it fondly.
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