Neubaufahrzeug Panzer Platoon

The Panzerkampfwagen (tank or armoured fighting vehicle) Neubaufahrzeug (new construction vehicle), began development in 1932 as a series of tank prototypes in a first German attempt to create a medium to heavy tank. Like much of German tank development in the 1930s, Neubaufahrzeug was a deliberately vague name to disguise Germany's rearmament, which was restricted by the post Great War Treaty of Versailles.

German Army High Command granted a contract for the development of a 'heavy tractor' (Grosstraktor) to Rheinmetall-Borsig and Krupp and both provided designs. The vehicles went under various names throughout development including: Grosstraktor Nachbau (Large Tractor Construction), Mittlerer Traktor Neubau (Medium Tractor New Type), and Grosstraktor Neubau (Large Tractor New Type). The designation was finally standardized as Neubaufahrzeug in October 1933. Rheinmetall's Model A and Krupp's Model B were very similar in their overall design and mainly differed in the armament and arrangement of the weapons mounted in the turret. Rheinmetall's design had a 3.7cm gun installed over a short 7.5cm gun, while Krupp's design had a 3.7cm gun installed beside a 7.5cm gun. Both designs had two slightly modified Panzer I turrets armed with machine-guns with a turret mounted in the front and another in the rear.

The design and look of both prototypes were very similar to the British Vickers 'Independent' tank, and Soviet T-28 medium tank, as well as having some similarities to the Soviet T-35 and French Char-2C heavy tanks.

The initial two prototypes were built in mild steel (designated Nr.1 and Nr.2) by Rheinmetall in 1934. Three more fully armoured prototypes (designated Nr.3, Nr.4 and Nr.5) were built during 1935 and 1936.

PANZER NEUBAUFAHRZEUG IN ACTION

The Panzer Neubaufahrzeug were first used as a propaganda tool with one being shown at the International Automobile Exposition in Berlin in 1939.

They next took part in the invasion of Norway with Panzer Abteilung z.b.V. 40 (40th Special-Purpose Tank Battalion) where the three armoured Neubaufahrzeuge were assigned to the unit alongside its Panzer I and Panzer II tanks. One vehicle was assigned to Kampfgruppe Fischer advancing north through the Østerdalen Valley, while the other two were assigned to Kampfgruppe Pellengahr advancing up the Gudbrand Valley.

Following the conclusion of the campaign, the commander of Panzer Abteilung z.b.V. 40 wrote about the Neubaufahrzeug tank’s performance:
“… The Neubaufahrzeuge were deployed with great success even in the mountains. Despite warnings in many official reports, all bridges, even those with limitations of less than 5-tons, could be crossed without problems. Also, the tanks could move through very narrow streets ...In most cases where Neubaufahrzeuge were sent forward, our artillery could not be deployed. The tanks, however, were able to fully compensate for the missing artillery... Effective fire was opened with the 7.5cm gun, overpowering any enemy."

One Neubaufahrzeug was lost during the campaign near Andalsnes on the evening of 22 April 1940 when it was destroyed by a 2 pdr anti-tank gun, from the British 148th Infantry Brigade, one of only two anti-tank guns that the brigade landed.

The remaining vehicles were stationed at Akershus fortress in Oslo through 1940 before they returned to Germany.

THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS:

3x resin and metal Neubaufahrzeug Tanks

Miniatures are supplied unpainted and some assembly may be required.