In September of 1939, the world was astounded by Germany's ability to defeat Poland in less than a month. With the world still puzzled by the suddenness of this event, Denmark, Norway, Holland, Belgium, and France fell in rapid succession to the German on

Panzertruppen: The Complete Guide to the Creation & Combat Employment of Germany’s Tank Force • 1933-1942 (Schiffer Military History Book)

History

Thomas L. Jentz

Europe

Schiffer Military History

A rigid system for development and procurement of weapons systems had been established for the German army long before the Nazi era started in 1933. The troops were to send in requests for advanced weapon designs to their branch inspectorate. Controlled by budgetary constraints, the inspectorate (In 6 for tanks) eliminated crackpot ideas and Xmas wish lists. For worthwhile ideas, In 6 created performance specifications and sent them to the branch ordnance department (Wa Pruef 6 for automotive). Wa Pruef 6 then created a design specification and selected two or three private companies to develop conceptual designs. 1/10-scale drawings and wooden models were created by the companies (such as Krupp, Rheinmetall, Daimler-Benz, and M.A.N.) for Wa Pruef 6. These conceptual designs were then shown to In 6 to determine if they met their needs and to approve the next steps for procuring test Panzers. The system was very well controlled, because In 6 was not allowed to design and Wa Pruef 6 had no money. Therefore, Panzers designed up to 1939 were created as basic workhorses for employment in a wide range of tactical functions. This well-controlled system broke down at the start of the war, when Wa Pruef 6 themselves started creating new designs. Being engineers, they went for the newest high technology engines, semi-automatic transmissions, complex steering units, and torsion bar suspensions - none of which had been proven reliable or were needed to fulfil basic tactical needs. Then, companies like Porsche and Daimler-Benz started their own conceptual designs without guidance from In 6 or Wa Pruef 6. Having encountered British, French, and Russian tanks with thick armor at the start of the war, Germany embarked on an uncontrolled arms race for bigger guns and thicker armor.

PAPER PANZERS: The Unfinished Projects (Panzerkampfwagen, Sturmgeschutz and Jagdpanzer.) (Panzer Tracts, Vol. # 20-1)

Panzer_Tracts

This is a 20 volume plus series from German AFV specialist Tom Jentz. The series , when complete, will present more 20 titles on virtually all the armored vehicles used by Germany from 1925-1945. They will provide a developmental history, unique characteristics, major modifications, data sheets and armor specs based solely on original documents and existing vehicles. Scale plans by Hilary Doyle. All are paper, 8 1/2 x 11, and well illustrated with photos & plans. Panzer Tracts No.13 - panzerspahwagen (Armored Cars) featuring four-view accurate 1/35 scale drawings of the Sd. Kfz.234/2 and Sd. Kfz.222 which are not available in any other publication. Another first is new scale drawings of both versions of the rare Sd. Kfz.247 armored command ears- Only data from original records was used in cleaning up the history and statistics of all the armored cars produced for the German Army fn World War U. As is our standard, the photographs in this 60 page Panzer Tracts were selected far clarity of detail and rarity of model including never before published photos of the Sd. Kfz.234 series and Sd. Kfz.247. 2001 paper covers, 8 1/2 x 11, glossy page stock, 60 pages, numerous photos and 1:35 scale plans.

Panzerspahwagen (Armored Cars Sd. Kfz 3 to Sd. Kfz 263) (Panzer Tracts, Vol. 13)

Here are more fascinating projects that were part of Hitler's secret super weapons program - but were either cancelled or unfinished at the end of the war. Newly discovered info from secret files and original drawings were used to create accurate multiple-view drawings of the VK 9.03 with Luchs turret, Luchs with 5 cm turret, Leopard (little brother of the Panther), Porsche 245, Auto Union Aufklaerer, Panzer-Aufklaerer 38t, Aufklaerer 38D, Sd. Kfz.234 and Sd. Kfz.251with 7.5 cm Aufklaerungs-Kanone L/48, Beobachtungs-Panther with 5 cm Kw.K. L/60, twin 7.5 cm Flak on 18t Zgkw., Krupp's VFWL and Mehrzweckfahrzeug, gigantic 8.8 cm Flak 41 (Sf.), three different twin 3.7 cm/5.5 cm Flak-Panzers, and the previously unknown Kugelblitz on a Pz.38t! In accordance with our high standards, the text and data are based solely on primary sources.. 2002 paper edition, 8 1/2 x 11, glossy page stock, Over 75 scale drawings and 14 rare photos are used to illustrate 24 different weapons systems in this 56 page book.

Paper Panzers - (Recon, Observation, and Anti-Aircraft Tanks) (Panzer Tracts, Vol.# 20-2)

Panzer-Tracts 1-1 revolutionized the understanding of the basic Pz.Kpfw.I. This second volume continues with the in-depth presentation of new facts on the rest of the Pz.Kpfw.I variants, their combat history from Spain to Russia, and accurate information on camouflage colors and markings. Careful detailed measurement of surviving vehicles and original drawings with clear photographs were used to create 14 sets of four-view scale prints very accurately at full scale in CAD. These are printed at 1/24th scale to show small details on the kl.Pz.Bef.Wg. (small command tank), Schulfahrzeuge (driver's training vehicles), LKA and LKB (Krupp's light tanks for export), the VK 6.01 (Pz.Kpfw.I Ausf.C) and VK 18.01 (Pz.Kpfw.I Ausf.F). 2002 paper covers, 8 1/2 x 11, glossy page stock. This 96 page book is heavily illustrated with 43 scale prints and 99 rare photos, including four pages with markings and camouflage patterns in color. (traceable to the original RAL paint chips and OKH orders)

Panzer Tracts No. 01 - 2 Panzerkampfwagen I - Kl.Pz.Bef.Wg. To VK 18.01

The series , when complete, will present more 20 titles on virtually all the armored vehicles used by Germany from 1925-1945. They will provide a developmental history, unique characteristics, major modifications, data sheets and armor specs based solely on original documents and existing vehicles. Scale plans by Hilary Doyle. Panzerkampfwagen "Panther"Ausf.D with Versuchs-Serie ( Trial Series ) Panther, Fgst.Nr.V2 - we spent hundreds of hours accurately measuring survivors and hundreds of days drawing at full-scale to create as-built drawings for the first tune - accurate to the same tight tolerances demanded of tine original assembly firms, Hundreds of research hours went into finding the numerous previously unnoticed modifications. Many of these newly discovered details would remain "hidden" if printed as 1:35th scale overview drawings. Therefore, we have selected the unique approach of using 1:10th scale drawings to illustrate the smallest details on components; while six-view (including right side and belly) 1135th scale drawings are still used for the complete Panther. We also created "flat-plane" drawings of many components to aid modelers make accurate parts that arc herd to replicate when only drawn at angle. 2003 paper covers, 8 1/2 x 11, 72 page book is heavily illustrated with over 100 scale drawings, 11 original drawings, and 44 clear / rare large-format photos.

Panzerkampfwagen " Panther ' Ausfuehrung D. (Panzer Tracts, Vol. 5-1)

The authors have spent hundreds of hours accurately measuring survivors and hundreds of days drawing at full-scale to create as-built drawings for the first time - accurate to the same tight tolerances demanded of the original assembly firms. Hundreds of research hours went into finding the numerous previously unnoticed modifications. Many of these newly discovered details would remain "hidden" if printed as 1/35th scale overview drawings. Therefore, we have selected the unique approach of using 1/10th scale drawings to illustrate the smallest details on components; while six-view (including right side and belly) 1/35th scale drawings are still used for the complete Panther. They also created "flat-plane" drawings of many components to aid modelers make accurate parts that are hard to replicate when only drawn at angle. 2003,paper covers, 8 1/2 x 11, 68-page book is heavily illustrated with over 200 scale drawings and 38 clear/rare large-format photos.

Panzerkampfwagen "Panther" Ausf.A (Panzer Tracts, # 5-2)

We spent hundreds of hours precisely measuring survivors and over a thousand hours drawing at full-scale to create as-built drawings for the first time - accurate to the same tight tolerances demanded of the original assembly firms. Hundreds of research hours went into finding the numerous previously unnoticed modifications. Therefore, we have selected the unique approach of using 1/10th scale drawings to illustrate the smallest details, while six-view (including right side and belly) 1/35th scale drawings are still used for the complete Panther. We also created "flat-plane" drawings of many components to aid modelers make accurate parts that are hard to replicate when only drawn at an angle. This 68 page book is the ultimate accurate reference for the Panther Ausf. G and the F.G.1250 infra-red scope and sight with over 200 scale drawings and 29 clear/rare large-format photos. 2004 paper covers, 8 1/2 x 11 , glossy page stock, 68 pages.

Panzerkampfwagen Panther - Ausf.G (Panzer Tracts, # 5-3.)

The Jagdpanther (German: "hunting panther"), SdKfz 173, is a tank destroyer built by Nazi Germany during World War II based on the chassis of the Panther tank. It entered service in 1944 during the later stages of the war on the Eastern and Western Fronts. The Jagdpanther combined the 8.8 cm KwK 43 cannon of the Tiger II and the armor and suspension of the Panther chassis.

"Jagdpanther" - Panzerjaeger Panther (8.8 cm Pak) (Sd.Kfz.173) Ausf.G1 und G2 (Panzer Tracts, # 9-3)

Panzer Tracts No. 15-2 - mittlere Schuetzenpanzerwagen (Sd.Kfz.251) -History of Variants, Production, Organization, Issue, Tactics, and Employment in Action from 1939 to 1942 - A trip was made to the end of the earth (well, South Africa anyway) to accurately mea-sure the surviving Ausf.B and numerous trips (a bit closer to home) were made to thoroughly measure a surviving Ausf.C with a riveted armor body in order to create detailed as-built drawings. This in depth research also allowed the creation of accurate drawings of the related Ausf.A and the often misidentified mittlere ungepanzerte Mannschaftstransportwagen (Sd.Kfz.251). This book is also loaded with new information on the history, production, unit organization, issue, tactics, and wartime reports from front-line units. In accordance with our high standards, the text and data are based solely on primary sources. 24 drawings and 56 rare photos illustrate this 52 page book.

Mittlere Schuetzenpanzerwagen (Sd.kfz.251) (Panzer Tracts, # 15-2)

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