History
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With Germany fully committed to all-out war in Europe and Africa, and seemingly having all the upper hand until 1942, authorities (including Hitler) gave the green light to many new - and sometimes outrageous - plans . The Landkreuzer P. 1500 "Monster" from the traditional heavy weapons company Krupp was such a creation. While its sister project - the Landkreuzer P. 1000 "Rat" - with its massive rotating turret proved to be a traditional "super-heavy" tank in development, the P. 1500 was intended more as a Self-propelled super-heavy tank artillery platform - perhaps more similar to the large railroad gun, the Germans had experience building and using them in both world wars.
It would certainly come in handy when trying to drive away the stubborn Soviet troops entrenched in the sprawling Soviet empire on their way to Moscow.
Both projects were approved for development to meet the requirements of the German Armament Ministry in 1942. Like the P. 1000, the P. 1500 was also to be destroyed at the end of the war - it was cancelled in 1943 by then Minister of Armaments Albert Speer.
If completed, the P. 1500 would have limited battlefield value - its sheer size limited maneuverability over the varied terrain of European terrain, while consuming much-needed war materiel and manpower (the vehicle required about 100 men to operate).
At the heart of the Landkreuzer P. 1500 system will be the powerful 800mm K(E) main gun, which will primarily be used to attack enemy defensive positions. The main armament will be mounted in a fixed structure, which must be of considerable size and strength to support the artillery. The recoil device would be an integral part of the weapon and its mounting hardware, but with considerable tolerance for the forces involved. The powerful nature of the 800mm main gun will allow the system to operate out of range of enemy fire and deliver impressive payloads at a distance - just like the concept behind the previous German Imperial Army WWII 'Paris Cannon' . In addition, engineers are considering a pair of 15 cm (150 mm) sFH 18.1 L/30 field guns for short-range attack, in conjunction with the 800 mm gun.
If attacked directly from the air, the platform will be defended by a network of 15mm MG151/15 series automatic cannons mounted around the massive structure. Armor protection is 250 mm (nearly 10 inches) thick on critical surfaces of the structure.
Of course, one of the biggest challenges facing the project engineers was the power needed to propel the 46-ton beast. This led to the prospect of combining 4 x MAN M9v 40/46 diesel engines with specially designed crawler hulls - marine diesel engines powering the submarine class of German submarines. Each engine is rated at 2,200 horsepower, so an estimated maximum road speed of no more than 9 mph (on ideal surfaces).
These ranges, although never formally estimated, are certainly very limited and overland travel is not possible. Given the nature of European roads at the time and the narrow bridges, these monsters should have had difficulty on the march.
Rail travel was a possible option, but engineers were driven by a more nimble, automatic solution - especially as the development of larger and larger tanks in the war made greater strides, including the legendary The "Tiger" and "Tiger King" tanks were launched.
Ultimately, the P. 1500 became yet another fantastical war project abandoned by Germany, confined to the minds and drawing boards of a few far-reaching individuals. The intended engine layout may not provide the propulsion needed to move such a large and heavy weapon in an acceptable time frame, and its vast battlefield contours are nearly impossible to hide from the air -- let alone protect it from concentrated air strikes Well.
Logically, the P. 1500 was developed on too large a scale for tactical use, and the transport/repositioning system would cause problems for the longevity of the vehicle. Its large workforce will require the support of a range of vehicles to provide ammunition and general supplies to aid its operations in oil, fuel and ammunition consumption, as well as the services of specially trained personnel to take care of the various work engagement platforms along the way . As a result, all development of the P. 1500 ceased in 1943, with little actual completion of the project.
The P. 1500 joins the ranks of the P. 1000, which have never been seen, even in prototype/pilot form.
Other German megaprojects managed a longer process - such as the super heavy Panzerkampfwagen VIII "Rat" - another famously secretive megaproject. In fact, it was produced in 1944 with two examples (albeit partially), but these vehicles were only used to highlight the problems encountered when building oversized and heavy chain weapon systems.
These pilot vehicles made it one of the largest enclosed armored combat vehicles in military historyone of the prototypes that ended up in the hands of the invading Soviets as they advanced toward Germany.
Specification
Basic
Year:
1942
Staff:
120
Manufacturing:
Krupp - Nazi Germany
Production:
0 units
Roles
- fire support/attack/damage
- Support/Special Purpose
Dimensions
Length:
137. 80 feet (42 m)
Width:
59.06 ft (18 m)
Height:
22. 97 feet (7 m)
Weight:
1,700 tons (1,542,214 kg; 3,400,000 lbs)
Performance
4 x MAN M9V 40/46 Marine Diesel Engines, 2,200 hp each.
Performance
Maximum Speed:
15 km/h
Maximum range:
31 miles (50 km)
Armor
1 x 800 mm K(E) rail gun
2 x 15cm (150mm) sFH 18/1 L/30 Field Howitzers
20 x 15mm MG151/15 Auto Cannon
Ammo:
Not available.
Changes
p. 1500 - Basic Item Family Names