On the theory of "the bigger, the better," Adolf Hitler authorized development of a supertank ironically called the "Maus" ("mouse"). It weighed 220 tons (200 metric tons) at a time when ordinary tanks were around 30 tons (27 metric tons) and even the massive King Tiger still weighed only 75 tons (68 metric tons). It was armored with steel ranging from 7.4 inches (18.8 cm) to 9.8 inches (24.9 cm) thick.
Because of its huge weight, it could not go onto city streets or across bridges without them collapsing. In order to traverse a river, it had to drive on the bottom and feed air to the engine through a snorkel. It had a top speed under ideal conditions of less than 8 miles per hour.
German tank expert General Heinz Guderian thought the whole Maus concept ridiculous, especially since the tank had no machine guns for its self-defense, leaving it vulnerable to any Allied serviceman (or dog) who would trot by with a satchel of high explosive. He was overruled by the industrialists who designed the tank and Hitler.
The only Maus which was actually built is pictured below and is currently displayed at the Kubinka Tank Museum outside of Moscow. The Soviets captured the tank factory before full production was in gear and assembled the tank from a hull and turret which had been completed by the Germans. The Soviets tested the armor by shooting various anti-tank rounds at it and found that the Maus possibly would have done very well in battle, provided that it could have gotten there in a timely fashion in the first place.
 |
| Superewer [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons |
No comments:
Post a Comment