Panzer Armor

[costard]

Kettles, Tooze does read and cite Speer - and goes on to debunk his representation of the facts with reference to numbers and performance results of industry in the Reich. The facts turn out to be that Speer makes the most of an opportunity to self-promote (and, given the context of a leadership group of corrupt self-promoters, his actions can hardly be seen as surprising), just in time to reap the rewards of his predecessor's efforts. (I think the legal mechanism was a centralisation of control of production, a power base within the Reich leadership was created and sold to Speer).

The idea that Speer mis-represents the facts, and represents himself in the same corrupt, self-promoting fashion after the war as he did before and during (remember, this is what the leadership selection process was in the reality of the Reich Mk3), is not a terribly difficult one to get your head around, surely?

I reckon you're on the money with the cost benefits of the plate armour. Rolled mild steel is a one-factory job - the rolling mill (usually sited next to a foundry). Ship it from there to the front lines and the workshops on the ground can use it as necessary. Mesh requires a further step in the manufacturing process, so at least one more shipment and handling step, before the end result is achieved.

As for the costs of different units - no cost component listed for armament? On an AFV? Big rifled barrels cost heaps, and the bigger and better ones cost more (more strategic materials usage, higher quality processes and quality controls, more demand for quality in the personel managing the processes and controls.)

[poesel]

...whereas making the special mesh screens is another whole set of evolutions to be done, and I'm reasonably certain nothing was being made quite like that, save maybe certain industrial sifters and screens.

What is so special about these meshes? Is there a picture or some specs?

[John Kettler]

poesel71,

From what I can see, the armor mesh wire is thick and woven. It may or may not be tack welded too at intersection points. Anyone live near Saumur? Pic's from there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PzIV.Saumur.000a5s6s.jpg

Regards,

John Kettler