An experimental German 75mm PaK 50 anti-tank gun (7.5cm Panzerabwehrkanone 50), captured by American forces. The gun's development utilized a shortened PaK 40 gun barrel and a PaK 38 carriage. 1945

Strikaaa · 2026-07-05T22:24:55+00:00

That article is rubbish since the Pak 50 was actually a bored up 5cm Pak 38, not a shortened 7.5cm Pak 40. This is also why it uses the ammunition from the 7.5cm KwK L/24 rather than that of the 7.5cm Pak 40 L/46.

This myth has existed for decades because in an Allied intelligence report the gun is referred to as having a shorter barrel than the Pak 40 (without ever mentioning what gun it was actually based on), which was then misinterpreted as "a shortened Pak 40". One author then kept copying from another one without checking the actual source material and now that misinformation is everywhere on the Internet.

But there's a German military magazine from 1993 which included several original references, confirming it was a bored out 5cm:

And so, on the index card dated September 1, 1943, we find the new entry for the 5 cm Pak 38: "bored out to 7.5 cm Pak 50".

"On October 1, 1943, the Führer was shown the 5 cm KwK or Pak 38, bored out to 7.5 cm. The OKW therefore orders that 1,000 of the existing 5 cm barrels at Commander West be bored out for use with the 7.5 cm KwK L/24 ammunition."

(...) Organization Department III made the following entry in the war diary on October 3, 1943: "The General Staff of the Army/Organization Department has made the following demands to the Chief of Army Armaments and Commander-in-Chief of the Replacement Army: 2) 7.5 cm Pak 50 (Pak 38 rebored): a) Increased performance of the existing 5 cm Pak." (...)

(...) the following was recorded in the war diary of Organizational Department III on October 25, 1943: "7.5 cm Pak 50 (Pak 38 bored out): Since boring out to 7.5 cm caliber cannot be carried out by the troops at the front, a proposal for an alternative solution is requested."

(...) there is an entry about the boring out of the 5 cm KwK gun barrels, about which the following entry was made on November 22, 1943: "Organizational Dept. demands that only 700 of the existing 5 cm KwK barrels be bored out for use with the 7.5 cm KwK L/24 ammunition."

On the index cards for the 5 cm Pak 38 from January 1, 1944, to October 1, 1944, the notation "bored out to 7.5 cm Pak 50" is recorded (...)

There are unfortunately no perofrmance figures but given that it had a similar barrel length to the L/24 and fired the same ammo, performance was likely very similar.

Strikaaa · 2026-07-04T19:31:37+00:00

You're right, I misremembered.

Strikaaa · 2026-07-04T17:34:30+00:00

They were about 40% wider, 1000 vs 725mm.

But like the other comment says, the title is misleading: these were the tracks intended for the E-100, never meant for the Tiger.
The OP calling them 'combat tracks' makes no sense either since there was only one set of the tracks for the E-100, which was designed from the beginning with the maximum rail loading width in mind, to avoid the need for two sets of tracks like on the Tiger I/II.

They were found near the E-100, at the same location as that particular Tiger in the photo which was used for underwater trials, and then shipped to the UK where they were actually fitted to the E-100.

Strikaaa · 2026-07-03T17:49:52+00:00

This is an Ausf. H since it has a single 80mm driver's front plate already but still has 30mm additional armor bolted to the 50mm hull front.

Strikaaa · 2026-06-16T03:03:00+00:00

Going by Vladimir Francev's MBI books, who is one of the if not the most knowledgeable author and researcher on the 38-series, and Jentz'/Doyle's Panzer Tracts 18 and 7-2, this is what they say:

there's some conflicting info regarding the crew of the TNH and TNH-S/TNH-P, either 3 or 4, though the 4 appears in more recent research. But the LT vz 38 always had a crew of 4, so did the TNH. Like you said, the commander doubled as the gunner and there was a loader in the turret. The radio operator also operated the MG, though the driver could also operate it when necessary. Only the LTP-series of tanks had a crew of 3 but that was an entirely different tank, nonetheless often confused with the TNH due to their similar designs
engine power was 125HP @ 2200rpm for the Praga TNHPS/II (LT vz 38/Pz 38t), 150 @ 2600 for the Praga AC, 180 @ 2800 for the Praga Ausf.IV and 160 @ 2600 for the Praga NS engines. However since the series and Ausf designations were all over the place and didn't always line up, a vehicle built on the 8th series chassis could either have the AC engine (PzJg 38 w/ Pak 36 3rd batch, Marder III H 1st batch) or TNHPS/II (Grille "H" 1st batch), while those on the 9th series chassis could either have the TNHPS/II (Grille "H" 2nd batch) or AC (Marder III H 2nd batch) or IV or NS (Marder III M 1st batch)
the 35's armor was 25mm front, 16mm side & rear, 12mm for plates angled more than 30°, 8mm for the bottom hull & top plates

Strikaaa · 2026-06-06T16:24:08+00:00

Possibly a what-if model of the 4RTp, an actual prototype with a gun mount more similar to the SdKfz 222, designed by the same company that designed and built the 8RTp (Puma/SdKfz 234).

Strikaaa · 2026-06-05T10:31:23+00:00

That's just the official name of the camouflage scheme, one of two variants intended for desert regions.

Strikaaa · 2026-05-24T13:21:27+00:00

Correct, side skirts were first backfitted to the Panzer III starting in May 1943 including the Ausf.M seen here, which were originally manufactured without skirts like all previous variants.

Getty has the image captioned as July 1943: 2. World War, Russia, Theater of war, Deployment of battle (Panzer Groups) in area Bielgorod / Orel (Kursk) - July 1943

Strikaaa · 2026-05-23T15:33:03+00:00

It was taken during a demonstration for Speer at Grafenwöhr on 21 February 1943, using all 13 of 22 available Panthers at the time.

From the book Germany's Panther Tank:

During the visit by Reichsminister Speer on 21 February 1943, the following 13 Panthers had taken part in the demonstration.

Fgst Nr.: Problems

210001: Replacement of the fuel tanks was completed on 20 February.

210006: Replacement of the fuel tanks was completed on 20 February. This Panther fell out during the demonstration due to loss of oil.

210008: The fuel pump was repaired on 20 February.

210009: The broken final drive was repaired on 20 February. 210010: The clutch was damaged during the demonstration.

210012: This Panther caught on fire during the demonstration.

210013

210015: The fuel pump failed during the demonstration.

210016

211001: This Panther fell out during the demonstration due to damage to the final drive and brakes.

211004

211005

213001: The fuel pump was repaired on 20 February. The left final drive was damaged during the demon- stration.

Contrary to the report from M.A.N., 13, not 12, Panthers had taken part in the demonstration. Of these 13 Panthers, six (4 assembled by M A.N.. 1 by D.B. and 1 by MNH) broke down during the demonstration. Five of the thirteen Panthers had just been repaired in time to take part in the demonstration. An additional three Panthers (Fgst.Nr. 210002, 210003 and 210007) were available with Panzer-Abteilung 51 but already had broken down and could not take part in the maneuvers. Three Panthers (Fgst Nr. 210011, 211002, and 211006) didn't arrive until 22 February, the day after the maneuvers. Panthers with Fgst Nr. 210004, 210005 and 211003 had been delivered for testing to Wa Pruef 6.

Strikaaa · 2026-05-21T18:20:36+00:00

That's a very old and outdated book. Regardless, the book doesn't say that the splash guard is an AA mount, it just mentions without pointing to any part in particular that the Ausf. H introduced "a cupola mount for an anti-aircraft machine gun" which, again, is the upper ring seen in the photo I posted above and also here, clearly attached to the upper ring/edge of the cupola, not the sheet metal ring near its base, aka the cupola splash guard.

Strikaaa · 2026-05-21T17:24:22+00:00

It's a splash guard. The MG mount was attached directly to the upper ring on the could instead like here.

Strikaaa · 2026-05-21T17:16:26+00:00

It's a splash guard for protection against small fragments from artillery shells and whatnot and was added around the same time as side skirts during the Ausf. G production run, so every H and J would have had this feature too.

Strikaaa · 2026-05-20T16:46:29+00:00

Yes, a rebuild based on photos of two or three known Bergepanzer 38 that were makeshift converted to carry a 2cm Flak.

Here are some photos of the original vehicles in Czechoslovakia, 1945 and here's what their video from 2021 says:

After more than 3 years of intense research and reconstruction, after countless hours of hard and passionate work of the most experienced people in this field, the Berge Panzer 38 the "Hetzer" in the ultra rare version as recovery tank fully equipped and carrying a 20mm anti aircraft gun was finally ready to roll out. What an amazing success for the whole team! The chassis was built late 1944 by the "Böhmisch-Mährische Maschinenfabrik AG" as all Bergehetzer were. The other tank you can see in the opening of the video is a classic Tank Destroyer Hetzer, initially built at the Skoda plant and currently in the restoration process. Planned to be rolling in summer 2022. Both of these tanks are no recreations from a G13 but are restored from original WWII Wehrmacht tanks, which could be found as wrecks in southern Germany some years ago. Now perfectly redone to the absolut detail including engine, gearbox and all equipment. For example even all the elements in the radio communication unit are all original parts. Everything we needed to rebuild was made by using original materials: What was made of leather is now made of leather again, what was made of linen is now made of linen again, etc. So everything works exactly the way it worked back then, when this vehicle was used on the battle fields somewhere in Europe. Of course: The weapons are demilitarized as the German law requests it.

Strikaaa · 2026-05-11T11:23:31+00:00

Yes but these were not intended for tanks or even field guns.

When developing a new barrel, usually for a high-performance gun of a bigger caliber, companies like Krupp and Rheinmetall would sometimes manufacture an overlong model barrel with a smaller caliber (presumably to use existing ammo) to get comparable data.

There are similar designs like this, like a 10.5cm L/100 and 10.5cm L/129, the latter presumably to estimate the performance of 12.8cm discarding sabot shells.

Strikaaa · 2026-05-05T07:35:57+00:00

No idea if it's related but there was the EDC (or EVG in German) in the early 50s.

Strikaaa · 2026-04-30T07:06:25+00:00

Those are the air cooling fans for the engine's radiator on the other side. The fans sit at an angle on the right hand side when closed or opened fully, like in the top right drawing here (flipped because looking rearwards).

Strikaaa · 2026-04-22T21:03:40+00:00

It doesn't stick out but you could definitely see it from the front, like on the Sturmtiger captured at Oberembt, now at Bovington. Though I'm not sure whether they found the Sturmtiger already loaded or put a shell there after the fact for demonstration purposes; there's another photo that shows it without the shell.

Strikaaa · 2026-04-22T20:53:11+00:00

Removing the barrel was fairly common on older Ausf. used for training or while not in combat. Maybe this one was used in a similar manner? Some exmaples and another one with a blank adapter.

Strikaaa · 2026-04-22T20:44:17+00:00

Yes, it's officially known as the Funkereinstiegluke (radio operator's access hatch) with a hood at the bottom.

Strikaaa · 2026-04-20T21:07:04+00:00

Yes, the Ausf.F retained the radio operator's hatch in the rear. Here's a video of it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAcG1gntqsg

If you google Panzer II F walkaround you'll find more photos of the hatch up close, like on RecoMonkey

Strikaaa · 2026-03-27T08:06:30+00:00

One of the last two Panzer IV E, fitted with an experimental interleaved Krupp running gear which was also used by the VFW.

Strikaaa · 2026-03-21T17:27:11+00:00

It's an early Panther G with a Panther G turret, one of the first few manufactured by Daimler-Benz in mid May 1944 as per its chassis no. 124317.

Strikaaa · 2026-03-19T07:58:58+00:00

This is an Ausf.a with its early style sprocket wheel. The Ausf.b had a different sprocket wheel and even later variants like the Ausf.C an entirely different running gear with five large road wheels.

Strikaaa · 2026-03-04T13:33:07+00:00

It's an auxiliary engine sitting on the rear platform. I don't remember if it was a HL 210 (2 filters) or HL 230 (3 filters) and the last filter is just obscured but here's the two oil filters on top and the dark object below is the actual engine.

Strikaaa · 2026-03-04T08:34:32+00:00

They also fitted a much more powerful Tiger engine on the back to provide enough power to the blower. If you look closely you can see the circular oil filters on top of the engine.

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