rwcanuck Posted March 5, 2001 Share Posted March 5, 2001 This site gives some general data on the Neubaufahrzeug German Medium tank. Does anyone have further info on this tank and whether it saw action in World War Two? http://www.onwar.com/tanks/germany/fneubau.htm Thanks RW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forever Babra Posted March 5, 2001 Share Posted March 5, 2001 Norway, 1940. ------------------ Out of commission, become a pillbox. Out of ammo, become a bunker. Out of time -- become heroes... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olle Petersson Posted March 5, 2001 Share Posted March 5, 2001 In victory parades in Norway. Cheers Olle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mccooper Posted March 5, 2001 Share Posted March 5, 2001 Hello I have a little info as well as some photos on my hard dirve at home that I can email you if you wish. As for the Neubaufahrzeug (new construction vehicle) it was an experimental tank thought up and produced during a time when tanks were still seen as infantry support weapons. Overall, it was part of the land battleship class of tanks along with the Russian T28 & T35, British Independent, etc. If I remember correctly 5 prototypes were built and IDed as Panzer V's (heavy tank) by the German propaganda machine - which gave the allies some concern. 3 vehicles were shipped to Norway in 1940 to take part in the invasion (i forget the unit but again the info is at home). One was disabled and eventually destroyed by German engineers. The overall fate of the remaining tanks is somewhat unclear but they were either destroyed or scrapped. Later Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forever Babra Posted March 5, 2001 Share Posted March 5, 2001 From http://www.achtungpanzer.com/norway.htm German use of armored fighting vehicles in the Norwegian Campaign is often ignored, since only very limited panzer force was present. In addition, Norway had no tanks or any anti-tank guns as of April of 1940 and the only tanks to oppose the German invasion were those of the Allied Force (composed of British, French and Polish units). In preparations for the invasion, panzer unit for special purpose deployment - Panzer Abteilung zur besonderer Vervendung 40 (Pz. Abt. z. b. V. 40) was formed in order to support infantry operations in southern Norway. The unit was formed on March 8th of 1940, at the army base at Putloss in Schleswig-Holstein. This battalion size unit was composed of three light companies assigned from 3rd (probably 5th Panzer Regiment), 4th (36th Panzer Regiment) and 5th Panzer Divisions (15th Panzer Regiment). The first company was commanded by Captain von Burstin, second by Captain Toelke and third by Captain Niedreck. Battalion HQ had three PzKpfw I tanks and three Kleiner Panzer Befehlswagen I command tanks. Each company had its own company HQ and four platoons. Company HQ had single PzKpfw I, two PzKpfw II tanks and single Kleiner Panzer Befehlswagen I command tank. The first, second and third platoon had four PzKpfw I tanks each, while fourth platoon had five PzKpfw II tanks. The majority of PzKpfw I were the model A (Ausf A), while PzKpfw II were mainly the model c (Ausf c not to be confused with Ausf C). The unit saw action in central Norway, in the area of Lake Mjoesa and Randsfjord, supporting infantry. Following the fall of Norway, Pz. Abt. z. b. V. 40 was stationed at Akershus Fortress in Oslo until it was transferred to Finland in the winter of 1941/42. Pz. Abt. z. B. v. 40 and Neubaufahrzeuge On April 9th, first and second companies were sent to Denmark, while third company was sent to Norway aboard ships "Urundi" and "Antaris H". On April 17th, only a single Panzerkampfwagen I and Panzerkampfwagen II arrived in Oslo aboard "Urundi". The rest of the company (single Kleiner Panzer Befehlswagen I command tank, twelve PzKpfw I and six PzKpfw II tanks) went down with "Antaris H" (and other transports), which was sunk in the North Sea by a British submarine. In order to compensate for the loss, a platoon size unit equipped with three Neubaufahrzeug Panzerkampfwagen VI (Krupp turret) heavy tanks commanded by Lieutenant Hans Horstmann was sent to Norway. This unit was also known as Panzerzug Horstmann or Zug Putloss. It arrived in Oslo on April 19th, where its tanks were displayed for propaganda purposes. The focus was on three Neubaufahrzeug Panzerkampfwagen VI (Krupp turret) heavy tanks, which were to show the Allies that the German Panzertruppe was equipped with heavy tanks. The unit was then assigned to Pz. Abt. z. b. V. 40 and 196th Infantry Division and on April 20th moved to Hamar. Two of heavy tanks saw service with Pz. Abt. z. b. V. 40, while the third with Gruppe Pellangahr. The Gruppe Pellangahr was composed of elements of Pz. Abt. z. b. V. 40 and 196th Infantry Division. On April 25th, the one assigned to the Gruppe Pellangahr was immobilized by the British 25mm (French Hotchkiss) anti-tank gun position in the village of Kvam. One of two tanks from Pz. Abt. z. b. V. 40, drove and was stuck in the swampy area at Andalsnes and was eventually blown up by the German engineers. It was then replaced on May 16th of 1940, with a mild steel prototype giving the Pz. Abt. z. b. V. 40 once again the strength of three heavy tanks. Overall, Neubaufahrzeug Panzerkampfwagen VI (Krupp turret) heavy tanks proved to be unsuited for combat but in many cases provided infantry with the only available support. ------------------ Out of commission, become a pillbox. Out of ammo, become a bunker. Out of time -- become heroes... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwcanuck Posted March 5, 2001 Author Share Posted March 5, 2001 I always know where to get the info I need. Thanks guys RW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasper Posted March 5, 2001 Share Posted March 5, 2001 Neubaufahrzeug = "Parade Tank"? Boy those Germans had a gadget for EVERYTHING! So what was the name of the German gadget to dispense the little bits of ticker tape used in victory parades? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forever Babra Posted March 5, 2001 Share Posted March 5, 2001 Neubaufahrzeug = "New Construction Vehicle" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jshandorf Posted March 5, 2001 Share Posted March 5, 2001 Originally posted by rwcanuck: This site gives some general data on the Neubaufahrzeug German Medium tank. Does anyone have further info on this tank and whether it saw action in World War Two? http://www.onwar.com/tanks/germany/fneubau.htm Thanks RW Is it me, or did anybody notice the "Produciton Quantity" listed? It is 3. I kind of doubt this kind of tank ever saw any action. Jeff ------------------ When nuclear weapons are frozen then only freezers will have nuclear weapons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forever Babra Posted March 5, 2001 Share Posted March 5, 2001 Jeff. Please read the quote I included above. Actually, there were five or six produced. the first two (or three) were mild steel prototypes and one of THEM saw action when it replaced one of the three production units. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jshandorf Posted March 5, 2001 Share Posted March 5, 2001 Originally posted by Forever Babra: Jeff. Please read the quote I included above. Actually, there were five or six produced. the first two (or three) were mild steel prototypes and one of THEM saw action when it replaced one of the three production units. Oops. I just read the first post and looked at the web page link. You may now flog me. Jeff ------------------ When nuclear weapons are frozen then only freezers will have nuclear weapons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forever Babra Posted March 5, 2001 Share Posted March 5, 2001 Originally posted by jshandorf: You may now flog me. Sit DOWN, Bauhaus... He said I could do it... ------------------ Out of commission, become a pillbox. Out of ammo, become a bunker. Out of time -- become heroes... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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