Initially four companies, Henschel (H), Porsche (P), Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nürnberg (MAN), and Daimler Benz (DB), were requested to build prototypes with the requirements for a fast heavy medium tank able to defeat the Soviet T-34 tank on the Eastern front. Henschel's design, the VK 30.01(H), was considered outdated, with only a 7.5 cm (3.0 in) Kwk 37 L/24 short howitzer-like gun and resembling an enlarged Panzer IV, but with the overlapping and interleaved Schachtellaufwerk roadwheel system coming from their half-track designs. The Porsche entry, the VK 30.01(P), developed at the same time as the heavy VK 4501 (P), was withdrawn when the Henschel's Tiger I went into production. This only left MAN and DB as contenders and so they were ordered to construct improved models, VK 30.02(MAN) and VK 30.01(D).
The VK 30.02 (DB) adopted several features of the T-34 over and above those specified by the army (sloped armour, large roadwheels, and overhanging gun) by using a diesel engine with rear transmission and jettisonable external fuel tanks. The design used leaf springs rather than more expensive torsion bar suspension.
The VK30.02 (DB) was ordered into production with an initial target of 200 vehicles partly due to Hitler's favouring the design. Hitler also requested the longer L70 gun rather than the 40-calibre long 75mm. The Waffenprufamt 6 committee however favoured the more conventional (in terms of German design and engineering) VK 30.02 (M) and ordered prototypes of it in May 1942 then quietly rescinded the DB order.
The file contains the unit and pcx files. Model is not my own creation. Wyrmshadow helped with the animation files. I merely put the pieces together and cleaned up the model for CivIII and added some what if pieces. A big thanks to everyone that helped out!
The VK 30.02 (DB) adopted several features of the T-34 over and above those specified by the army (sloped armour, large roadwheels, and overhanging gun) by using a diesel engine with rear transmission and jettisonable external fuel tanks. The design used leaf springs rather than more expensive torsion bar suspension.
The VK30.02 (DB) was ordered into production with an initial target of 200 vehicles partly due to Hitler's favouring the design. Hitler also requested the longer L70 gun rather than the 40-calibre long 75mm. The Waffenprufamt 6 committee however favoured the more conventional (in terms of German design and engineering) VK 30.02 (M) and ordered prototypes of it in May 1942 then quietly rescinded the DB order.
The file contains the unit and pcx files. Model is not my own creation. Wyrmshadow helped with the animation files. I merely put the pieces together and cleaned up the model for CivIII and added some what if pieces. A big thanks to everyone that helped out!
