Chapter 303： VK 4501 Project (2/2)
However, it is not enough just to have the Panthers. The standardized chassis of the Panthers is already at the limit if it is improved to the forty-ton level, and Germany needs a stronger tank!
Therefore, two years ago, the development of new tanks had already started steadily.
Dr. Ferdinand Porsche successfully met Hitler's requirements when developing the Beetle, allowing Hitler to see the incompetence of those domestic auto factories. Therefore, Hitler trusted Dr. Porsche very much.
Therefore, he appointed Dr. Porsche as the chief of the German Tank Development Committee and became Hitler's chief consultant on tank development; the committee is composed of engineers and industry representatives, responsible for future tank design and providing professional advice on the tanks being developed by the Ordnance Bureau .
Of course, this is not to say that Cyric is not important. After all, Cyric is now in charge of too many projects. Cyric is still the commander-in-chief of the Waffen-SS. Therefore, Cyric can't be busy alone.
After all, it was Cyrenk who built the current German main equipment Tiger tank. Hitler had great confidence in Cyrenk. After returning from Libya, Cyrenk had already been defeated at the party meeting a few days ago. Formally established as Hitler's successor.
The turret of the tank was built by Krupp, while the chassis of the tank was competed by Henschel and Porsche.
Now, on the field are these two tank chassis.
There was a burst of excitement on Dr. Porsche's face. Since he had followed Hitler, he had changed his life for the second spring. He was full of energy.
”According to our deduction of the future war, after the war, Britain, France, the United States and the Soviet Union will definitely carry out the research and development of new tanks. Their new tanks may have tank guns of more than 70 mm or even 100 mm, which may penetrate deep. It will reach one hundred millimeters. Therefore, our new tank must have a protection capacity of more than 100 millimeters.”
As the chief consultant of tank development, Dr. Porsche has been studying the development of tanks for several years. His judgment is very correct.
The protective power of the tank ~~ must exceed 100 mm, which also means that the weight of the tank will be greatly increased!
”In this way, the self-weight of the tank will be at least 45 tons, or even larger, reaching a scale of 60 tons.” Dr. Porsche continued: ”We believe that under this weight, ordinary mechanical devices may not be able to bear this. Kind of weight, so we developed an electric drive system.”
Now, the number of the project has become VK4501, and the two units participating in the development are all based on the 45-ton level.
Therefore, although the Panther tank is very powerful now, it cannot replace the new tank. After the Panther tank has been developed and improved to the 40-ton level, it has no potential to tap, and the current new tank starts from 45 tons. It is easy to improve to 60 tons.
Dr. Porsche is a technical madman. He usually stays in the Porsche factory in Stuttgart to design. Moreover, he is the chief consultant for tank development. He is not subject to the technical performance requirements deduced by the Ordnance Bureau according to the combat training. Design ability.
It is for this reason that although many of Porsche's designs are advanced in concept, most of them do not meet the needs of the army, such as the suspension system of the outer frame and the electric drive concept.