Does anyone have any information on the Landkreuzer P-1000 "Ratte" (Rat). I mean how far in the planning stages they have gone. 2 x 280mm SK C/34 L/54,5 128mm KwK 8 x 20mm Flak 38 2 x 15mm MG 151/15 From the pdiagram it looks more of a "waste" than the Maus, actually looks like a freaking battleship, a lot like that Russian pre-WWII design. Thank God Albert Speer scappred. Apprently it was supposed to be a 1000ton tank or something like that.
I am yet to see any evidence which suggests that such a tank was ever talked about, in any form, during the war. Until I see such evidence, I will continue to think of it as a figment of someones (very vivid) imagination.
I have found some information on wikipedia :-? Apprently construction was started, but was cancelled before completion by Speer in 1943. Hitler should have learnt that bigger dosent actually always mean better. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-1000 I find that the construction started as not true... :bang: I also went on both the source links, 1 was Achtun Panzedr, the other a German diagram and some information in German. No where on the link to Achtun Panzer did it mention construction of the tank :bang:!! Damn that unreliable WIKIPEDIA!
That isn't evidence, that's hearsay. I don't trust Wikipedia, Achtung - Panzer ! or Panzerschreck. Why should I - all three show in other articles that their articles are full of errors, so why should these articles be an exception? Also, I haven't read a single reliable book which mentions anything called P1000 - this creature seems to mainly exist on the Internet and in some F-grade books and magazines. The suggestion that the turret should be installed in Norway is clearly a lie as well.
Considering some of the vehicles that were actually built,it wouldn't surprise me at all if this was on the drawing board at some time.It would be cool.
I've found this: http://www.panzerbaer.de/workshop/wdieb_mod_87-a.htm but I can understand only little parts of the text.
The key part is the first sentence of the second paragraph: "If you were to believe the sparse available sources..."
IN Spielbergers "Spezial-panzrfahrzeuge" There is a short note on the p1000 giving l little bit more detail: "Krup entwurf P1000, OKH auftrag Nr. 30404 vom 3-12-1942" the note gives a breakdown of weigths and other general info. Given the existence of a project number i would think this proves that there was at least a paper study of the thing and it is not an post war urban legend. Aglooka
Only if it is corroborated by a contemporary document, afterall I could knock up a picture, make up some statistics and even give it a plausible werk nr and project number if you wanted, it still wouldn't make the vehicle any less a figment of my imagination.
Well it all turns down wether to believe Spielberger. Since he makes the reference to the document it is a question of wether he made it up or not. I find it difficult to believe the author would make up this refernce... anyhow the 1942 date fits with the hulking of Gneisenau after the channel breakout. Two turrets were available (one was completely destroyed in an air attack) and someone at Krupp's might have been making some quick calculations to use em on a "tank". According to Spielberger a certain engineer Grote of Krupp gave a presentation on 23/6/1942 to Hitler about the possiblity of such a vehicle. This was then later followed by an order to make a preliminary design of the vehicle (which might be the document referred to in the previous post) aglooka
all the remaining turrets from gneisenau were used as costals defences. turret b in norway as battery fjell turret c also in norway as battery orland and the sec turrets in denmark in stevnfort
i'll ask my friend in denmark about the dates but be patiente, he usualy do not answer me as fast as i wish, but he will eventually
