E-35 Standardpanzer

E-35 E-35 Standardpanzer History: (From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entwicklung_series) E-35 The E-25 designs, in the 25-50 tons weight class, were to be the replacements of all Panzer III and Panzer IV based designs. This family would include medium reconnaissance vehicles, medium Jagdpanzer and heavy Waffentrger.

Alternate History: In 1941, Hitler ordered the design of a new medium tank that later became known as the various VK3002 designs and prototypes. As 1943 drew to a close, the war raged on and Allied strategic bombing slowed factory production lines to a halt, officers both on the front lines and those within for the armaments industry realized that the Panzer IV is nearing the end of its useful life cycle even with the upgrades that are constantly rushed to the front lines. Even with the introduction of the Panther tank, the need for a lighter but well-armed medium tracked reconnaissance vehicle or medium tank was still left unsatisfied. As a result, the VK3002 prototypes were once again examined. Due to the shortage of raw materials and the need to produce battle tested vehicles such as the Panther, it was not until 1944 that this new tank, now grouped into the larger E-series was finally produced.

Comparison:
Tank: PzKpfw V Panther (German, Tier 7 Competitor) 5 690 82/50/40* 120/45/45* 7.5 cm KwK 42 L/70

In-game stats: Crew: Engine Power (hp): Hull Armor (mm): Turret Armor (mm): Gun:

E-35 4 690 100/80/45 110/45/45 10 cm PAW 600

VK3002(DB) (German, Tier 7 Predecessor) 5 650 80/45/40* 80/45/45* 7.5 cm KwK 42 L/70

M26 Pershing (US, Tier 8) 5 500 102/76/51* 114/76/76* 90 mm gun M3A1

T-44 (USSR, Tier 8) 4 520 90/75/45* 120/90/75* 85-mm ZiS-S-53

* Stats are taken from the World of Tanks wiki and do not represent real-world values due to lack of data.

E-35 Standardpanzer
4 (Commander, Gunner, Loader, Driver) 1 x 10 cm PAW 600 2 x 7.92mm MG34 FuG12 2 FG 1250 Infra-red searchlights (Commander, Gunner) 360 vision ports on Commanders cupola. 120 vision periscope for Gunner 160 bullet-proof vision ports for Driver Approx. 8.50m Approx. 6.05m Approx. 3.30m Approx. 3.00m Approx. 45mm 37 - 39 tonne 17.69 18.64hp/tonne
2

Crew: Main Armament: Secondary Armament: Radio:

Development: Developed to be a lighter and more agile companion to the heavier and longer ranged Panther, Tiger and Tiger II tanks. The E-35 boasts an incredibly light weight, compact but hard hitting gun in a superbly agile platform. It is in some aspects, the predecessor to the Leopard I tank. Coming in as a logical and more reasonable continuation to the Panzer IV tank than the Panther. The E-35 was designed from the original VK3002 prototypes, incorporating technological improvements as the war moved on. Armor thickness can only be considered good but not impenetrable like the Tiger II. However, it is sloped to improve line of sight thickness and can deflect most anti-tank weaponry fielded by the enemy.

Vision:

Length Gun Forwards: Length Hull: Width: Height to commander's hatch: Ground clearance: Weight, combat: Power-to-weight ratio:

The chosen 10cm PAW 600 or 10H64 is an experimental anti-tank gun utilizing a high-low Ground pressure: <0.88kg/cm Petrol, pressure system to fire hollow charge warheads at Engine: Maybach HL 230 P 30 690hp enemy armor. While not as effective in long range Suspension: Conical Spring (Tiger II/E-50 type) combat as conventional high velocity cannons, the Maximum road speed: Approx. 70km/h need to adhere to weight constraints was a higher Maximum road range: Approx. 250km priority. Weighing it at only 1000Kg and capable of Fuel capacity: >720 Litre penetrating 200mm of armor at 1000m, it is the Hull: 100/80/45 larger cousin of the tried and tested 8 cm PAW 600 Armor(mm): Turret: 120/60/60 or 8H63. There was debate on whether to use the Armor type: Krupp Cemented Armor 8H63 or 10H64 as the 8H63 shared ammunition components already in use by the German Army but had less penetrating power and a lower effective range. This gun was used during the prototype stage but later dropped in favor of the 10H64 due to the newer guns longer range and higher penetration. The tank uses a conical spring suspension instead of the torsion bar on the Panther tank, saving both production time and uses less resources. Another departure from conventional medium tanks of that era was the removal of the bow machinegunner, the driver now sits in the center of the front-forward position of the front hull, similar to more modern tanks. This decreased the size of the tank while increased the available weight of which armor and extra ammunition can be loaded. Another interesting addition was the standardization of installing infra-red searchlights (FG 1250) originally used by Panther tank. With an effective range of only 600m during clear weather, it was found to be well suited to the 10H64 gun due to its short effective range.

E-35 Standardpanzer

Variants: VK3501 Prototype. E-35 First series mass produced tank. E-35 Ausf. A Infra-red searchlight FG 1250 mounted as standard equipment. 25 Produced. E-35 Ausf. B Trail version with 8H63 gun mounted, additional applique armor planned. None produced. E-35 Howitzer, Ammunition Carrier, IFV variants planned. None produced.

Status:
Production complete, over 250 units produced.

E-35 Standardpanzer

(Above): Artist concept of 2 E-35 tanks in action against enemy units on the Eastern Front.

Recognition and Manufacturing Features: Hull Well slopped glacis with drivers hatch in the center with no bow machine gun position. Slightly sloped sides and rear. Slightly smaller than Panther chassis. Hull known to use similar construction to Tiger II. Hull is face-hardened to improve armor effectiveness. Spall-liner installed. Turret Turret ring size same as the Panther. Turret with well sloped angles on all sides in a forward position. Spall-liner installed. Manufacturing Factories producing Panthers and Panzer IV could begin production of this tank with a minimal to moderate amount of retooling. Replacements and repair simplified by sharing major components with other German armored vehicles. This vehicle is intended to be easy to be mass-produced but powerful, similar in line to the doctrine of current NATO Main Battle Tanks. While doctrine maintains that it is a medium reconnaissance vehicle, it still had enough armor to engage most of its contemporaries fielded by other armies. The high top speed and low ground pressure allows it to travel quickly cross country to perform lightning raids behind enemy lines or attack from routes no accessible to enemy armor.

E-35 Standardpanzer

Resources used:
http://www.achtungpanzer.com/panzerkampfwagen-v-panther-sd-kfz-171.htm General Design Reference http://www.wehrmacht-history.com/heer/prototypes/vk-3601-h-panzer-vi.htm General Design Reference http://www.achtungpanzer.com/heu.htm#vks General Design Reference http://www.achtungpanzer.com/heu.htm#vk3001p Historical/Comparison/Specification Reference http://strangevehicles.greyfalcon.us/Nightfighting%20Panthers.htm Technological Reference http://books.google.co.nz/books?id=4LjRNypVrsC&pg=PA6&lpg=PA6&dq=Panther+ground+pressure&source=bl&ots=X3fWGCHvYb&sig=dianX6l8a_B9UNdX0z01VfbjR4&hl=en&sa=X&ei=WNlUT8u2KePgmAXEseCODw&ved=0CE4Q6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=Panther%2 0ground%20pressure&f=false Specification Reference http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8_cm_PAW_600 Weapons Reference http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10H64 Weapons Reference http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7.5_cm_KwK_42 Weapons Comparison http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LeFH_18M Weapons Comparison