Lempereur Posted August 28, 2001 Share Posted August 28, 2001 Just curious as to why the Mark IV did not have a fancy name like the Panther or Tiger? The Germans didn't use the king of all beasts (lion) as a name as far as I know. Looks like they had a sense of humor even at the end of the war with the Mouse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Posted August 29, 2001 Share Posted August 29, 2001 well, in the early days there simply was no need to use 'suggestive' names like 'Tiger' or 'Panther'. After WW2 turned, Hitler was the one that ordered to use suggestive names. Guess he thought it would inspire his own troops and would create fear within the opponent... Fred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lcm1947 Posted August 29, 2001 Share Posted August 29, 2001 A lot easier to keep up on also. Yeah, Lion would have been a good one. Guess Germany was able to use Leopard finally , course old mustache face wasn't around then. That really was a awesome looking tank - the Leopard. I think it was the best looking tank ever made. Sorry I can't show you a picture but some of us aren't as computer wise as others. I'm in the first bunch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike8g Posted August 29, 2001 Share Posted August 29, 2001 Here's a picture of a Leopard 2: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonS Posted August 29, 2001 Share Posted August 29, 2001 I can't do pics yet, but i can shamelessly post links to other websites ... http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/leopard2.htm Of note are the two distinctly different turrets (is one the swedish indigenouse turret?), and the generally vertical armour ... have the Germans forgotten about sloped armour :confused: Other new kitties from the Germans are the Jaguar, Luchs, and Wolf (ok, not really part of the cat family). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warmaker Posted August 29, 2001 Share Posted August 29, 2001 The Leopard 2 is a mighty fine tank from what I understand. Quite popular in the export market too to boot... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catullus Posted August 29, 2001 Share Posted August 29, 2001 The Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. L was a cat, the Luchs we all love. Another version of the PanzerII was named Leopard, but never put in production. see http://www.achtungpanzer.com/leo.htm Pz.Kpfw. VII Löwe (Lion) was on the drawing table. See http://members.tripod.com/~fingolfen/superheavy/lowe.html Of course, they had the Puma, but that doesn't count as a tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgdpzr Posted August 29, 2001 Share Posted August 29, 2001 Not really an answer to your question, but just a slight correction in terms of the naming of vehicles. The Germans did not refer to any of their vehicles as "Mark IV" or "Mark V," or any direct translation as such. "Mark" is a term used by the Brits to refer to the different panzers, as well as other things, too. IIRC, the Germans used the Sdkfz. numerical designations as the formal vehicle identifications (for maintenance/parts reasons), but in actual practice the vehicles were referred to as Panzer I thru IV. Also, although the Brits would often refer to the Panther as the Mark V, or the Tiger as Mark VI, the Germans didn't usually refer to these vehicles as Panzer V or Panzer VI, instead they used the cat names. I know, I didn't answer your question, because I don't have a clue as to why the Germans started using the cat names. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boy_Recon Posted August 29, 2001 Share Posted August 29, 2001 They also had the Rhino (Nashorn),the Wasp (Wespe), the Bumblebee(Hummel) and the Flamingo (PZII Flame version )and, of course, the Elephant ( That's 'Elefant', for the hard of understanding). If memory serves, they also had the Brummbaur (Grizzly Bear) and the Maultier( Mule, a halftrack, but carrying Neberwerfer). I have a sneaking suspicion that "Hetzer" means something also, but can't think what. So thats cats, insects, birds and pachyderms, and whatever rhinos are. Of course the real question is why, when I was cramming all this useless information into my head, wasn't I learning something useful like bricklaying, light engineering or a good programming language instead? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tools4fools Posted August 29, 2001 Share Posted August 29, 2001 @ boy_Recon A "Hetzer" is someone who hunts down its prey. Like British fox hunting with horses and dogs. Chase until the victim can't run anymore; then kill. The "Hetzer" worked for me in the last turn on an PBEM. Another dead Sherman II... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted August 29, 2001 Share Posted August 29, 2001 <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by catullus: [QB]The Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. L was a cat, the Luchs we all love. Another version of the PanzerII was named Leopard, but never put in production. see http://www.achtungpanzer.com/leo.htm <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Mmmm, didn't Dr.Porsche name one of his tanks, which was meant to be the successor to the Mk.IV, the "Leopard"? The Panther basically replaced it, as it and the competing Rhienmetall design were underarmoured and undergunned compared to the T-34. Vk.4000 series I believe, if memory serves me correctly - my books are presently packed away after a house move and I haven't got them on the shelves yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted August 29, 2001 Share Posted August 29, 2001 <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Brian: Vk.4000 series I believe, if memory serves me correctly - my books are presently packed away after a house move and I haven't got them on the shelves yet.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Correction, make that the Vk.3000 series. Vk.3001p Panzer Series Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lempereur Posted August 29, 2001 Author Share Posted August 29, 2001 Very interesting. Thanks for all the input. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Emrys Posted August 29, 2001 Share Posted August 29, 2001 <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by boy_Recon: They also had the...Maultier( Mule, a halftrack, but carrying Neberwerfer).<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> If memory serves, the Maultier began life as an armored ammo carrier, hence the name. Later, they were looking for an enclosed armored vehicle to mount the Nebelwerfer on and, hey presto! Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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