Wt auf pz 4 equipment. Guide to the German tank destroyers of the ninth level Waffenträger auf Pz

Interesting 11.08.2019

Interesting

As mentioned above, on October 4, 1944, the so-called "crisis" tank production program was adopted, which, among other things, included the removal of the Pz.IV chassis from production. as a result, the question arose of how to replace the Hummel and Na-shorn self-propelled guns. A way out was found in the use of the so-called "Waffentrager" (Waffentrager) for this - special artillery transporters or carriers.

A prototype Waffentrager from Steyr-Daimler-Puch. Spring 1945

The development of machines of this class began in Germany at the end of 1942. It was supposed to design two versions of the "waffentragers": the first, on which it was planned to install a 75-mm L / 70 gun, a 105-mm FH 18 howitzer or a 37-mm Flak 18 anti-aircraft gun, and a second, heavier one, for the 88-mm RaK 43 gun, 150 mm FH 43 howitzers or 128 mm K 43 guns.

It was assumed that a single undercarriage of a special design would be developed for the Waffentragers, as power plant it was supposed to use one of the engines that were in serial production and providing a cruising speed of the car not lower than 17 km / h. The gun was supposed to have a 360-degree horizontal firing, and also be easily removed from the undercarriage by the crew and rearranged on a conventional field carriage.

Krupp, Rheinmetall-Borsig and Steyr-Daimler-Puch were involved in the creation of "waffentragers". But the first projects submitted to the testing department artillery weapons(WaPruf 4) arms control ground forces at the end of 1943, they did not receive approval - it was clear that the developed machines were too complex and heavy.

After revising the tactical and technical requirements and clarifying a number of parameters of the "waffentragers", from February 7 to 15, 1944, a meeting of representatives of the departments for testing tank and artillery weapons was held, at which various variants of these vehicles proposed by Krupp, Steyr and Rheinmetall were considered.

Krupp presented three different projects of "waffentragers" (with 88 mm PaK 43 guns), developed by three design bureaus: Welfert group, Egen group and Burger group. In addition, the meeting discussed the issue of a "waffen-trager" for the 105-mm howitzer FH 18/40, the project of which was also proposed by Krupp. This installation provided for the use of the chassis of the tank 38 (t) with a removable howitzer installation. The latter had a small height of the line of fire and was mounted in a rotary armored cabin, providing a circular fire. This project also took into account possible variant using the 75 mm KwK 42 gun.

The second prototype Waffentrager designed by Ardelta with 88-mm gun PaK 43

On February 24, 1944, in the artillery weapons test department (WaPruf 4) in Berlin, they heard the results of the preliminary design of the Waffentragers and their coordination with the previously put forward tactical and technical requirements.

It was decided first of all to use the 88-mm PaK 43 L / 71 cannon with its main components for arming these machines. It was supposed to redesign the barrel mount stopper in a stowed position, the horizontal pickup mechanism and the armor protection of the calculation. In addition, the task was to simplify and reduce the cost of the design of "waffentragers" as much as possible. For example, in the projects of the Krupp company, a special conveyor was used to transport parts of the field carriage, lifting and loading and supporting devices, as well as most of the ammunition.

Along with this, the department for testing tank weapons (WaPruf 6) insisted on using in the design of "waffentragers" already in production and proven in operation units and assemblies of tanks or tractors. First of all, it was about the running gear of the Jagdpanzer 38 and the 160 hp Praga engine. With. It was also supposed to study the possibility of using the 8-cylinder Klockner-Humboldt-Deitz 140 hp diesel engine, which was being tested at that time, as well as the gearbox and turning mechanism from Bussing-NAG heavy tractors, for the "waffentragers".

A report dated May 4, 1944 indicated that the assembly of the first Waffentrager samples from Rheinmetall and Steyr-Daimler-Puch was being delayed. Nevertheless, by the end of the summer, the cars were assembled.

The Steyr Waffentrager was equipped with a new Steyr-Boxer 12-cylinder carburetor engine, and also had a gearbox, chassis elements and tracks from the RSO tractor. The vehicle was armed with an 88 mm RAK 43 anti-tank gun in a hexagonal armored wheelhouse with circular rotation. At the same time, the elevation angles ranged from -8 to +45 degrees, the portable ammunition load was 15 rounds. The car was protected by armor 10-20 mm thick, and developed a speed of up to 35 km / h on the highway.

The Rheinmetall Waffentrager was structurally similar to the Steyer one, but differed from it in the use of the chassis of the Jagdpanzer 38 (t) self-propelled gun and the Praga engine.

However, the military recognized the car designed by the Ardeltwerke company in the city of Eberswalde as the most successful image of the “waff-fentrager”. Its development was led by G. Ardelt, the owner of the company. Unfortunately, little is known about him.

For example, the well-known researcher of German armored vehicles V. Shpilberger wrote that, being on the Soviet-German front, Ardelt witnessed how 70 new 88-mm PaK 43 guns were abandoned and went to the enemy due to the lack of artillery tractors. At the end of 1943, he designed a self-propelled gun by installing an engine on a 75 mm PaK 40 cannon. This system was tested at the ground forces training ground in Kummersdorf, but was considered unsuccessful.

At the end of 1943, the artillery testing department (WaPruf 4) concluded an agreement with Ardelt for the design and manufacture of a “waffentra-gera” at Ardeltwerke, which should have been easily suitable for mounting a 105-mm howitzer, a 75-mm gun KwK42h88-mm PaK 43.

The second prototype Waffentrager designed by Ardelta with an 88-mm gun PaK 43, left view

At the beginning of 1944, Ardelt submitted to the “Tank Development Commission” a draft of his vehicle, armed with the 88 mm PaK 43 cannon. Waffentrager" and the manufacture of a prototype. Therefore, in some sources this car is called the "Waffentrager Ardelt - Krupp".

A prototype machine, sometimes called the "Waffentrager Ardelt I", was assembled quickly - within a month. On May 30, 1944, the self-propelled gun was demonstrated to the military at the Kummersdorf training ground. The self-propelled gun was quite simple - it had a running gear and an engine from the Hetzer, and the armament (88 mm PaK 43 gun) was mounted on a pedestal in the rear of the vehicle. The gun had a circular fire and was protected by an armored shield in front and partially from the sides.

I really liked the car, and it was immediately decided to manufacture the so-called "zero" series of 100 units for front-line tests, 82 of them were to be armed with an 88-mm cannon, and 12 were supposed to be assembled as ammunition transporters. The assembly was to be carried out by Ardeltwerke, a number of parts were supposed to be supplied from factories of other companies. In parallel with this, the production of the second copy of the "waffentrager" was going on, a number of changes were made to the design of which. In the summer of 1944, this machine was successfully tested by running and shooting at the ground forces training ground in Hillersleben.

In August 1944 prototypes"Waffentragers" were demonstrated to Hitler. Of all these, Ardelt's machine was the lightest and cheapest. At the same time, this sample met the necessary requirements for mobility and tactical use and was also very simple in design.

General view of the serial sample of the "waffentrager" Ardelt, who arrived for testing in Kubinka near Moscow. Spring 1946 (CMVS)

However, the manufacture of machines of the "zero" series was delayed. So, on July 31, 1944, the artillery weapons test department announced the following release schedule: 34 in August, and 33 each in September and October. However, nothing was done, and on October 6 it was reported that the first 20 Waffentragers would be assembled before the end of the month.

At a meeting on the manufacture of these self-propelled guns, held in Berlin on December 12, 1944, it was reported that the first 10 Waffentragers would be assembled by the end of the month, and another 10 by January 15, 1945. In addition, work was almost completed on the manufacture and delivery of parts for the assembly of the remaining 80 machines.

However, on January 9, 1945, two cars were assembled, and another 18 were in a semi-finished form and were not equipped with undercarriage elements.

How many "waffentragers" Ardelt were made in total, the author does not know. We can only say for certain that on February 16, 1945, the headquarters of the Wisla Army Group sent the following to the head of the Ardelt company in Eberswalde:

“By order of the Inspector General of the Tank Forces, a company of tank destroyers “Eberswalde” is being formed, which will be used by order of the headquarters of the Army Group “Vistula”. The company includes seven ready-made "waffentragers" with an 8.8-cm L / 71 cannon. Oberleutnant Ardelt is appointed commander of this company. Gun crews will be sent from Army Group Vistula. The Eberswalde tank destroyer company will be used in the Eberswalde area. Combat missions will be placed by the headquarters of the Army Group "Vistula".

Thus, we can talk about at least seven assembled serial "waffen-tragers" Ardelta. In addition, it is known that one serial model of the machine was tested at the training ground in Hillersleben on April 27, 1945. At least two such self-propelled guns were captured in the spring of 1945 by units of the 3rd Army of General A. Gorbatov (1st Belorussian Front): one in the Wandisch-Buchholz area (southeast of Berlin), the other in Brandenburg, southwest of Berlin. One such car (perhaps out of two captured) was at the exhibition of captured weapons and equipment in the Gorky Park of Culture and Recreation in Moscow in the summer of 1945. On board the car was the inscription: "From Berlin." Oberleutnant Ardelt himself, according to the German researcher W. Spielberger, “died on one of his Waffentragers while defending his hometown of Eberswalde.”

A serial sample of Ardelt's Waffentrager, which arrived for testing in Kubinka near Moscow. Spring 1946. On the right side of the hull, the inscription "From Berlin" (CMVS) is visible.

It should be said that at the beginning of 1945, the Army Ordnance Department decided to start mass production of Waffentragers. To organize production, a working group was created under the leadership of Oberengineer Kracht from Auto-Union, which also included representatives from Krupp and Ardelt. The production volume was set as follows: March - 5 cars, April - 15, May - 30, June - 50, July - 80, August - 120, September - 170, October - 250, November - 300, and starting from December, 350 pieces per month.

At the same time, in addition to Ardelt's "waffentragers" with an 88-mm gun, it was supposed to put into production similar machines, but with more powerful artillery systems. At the end of 1944, Krupp designed several examples armed with 105 and 150 mm howitzers, as well as a 128 mm anti-tank gun. In their design, already used elements of the Ardelt “waffentrager” were used, but with a reinforced undercarriage (six road wheels per side). According to the layout of weapons (in the stern of the car behind the shield), they also resembled the design of Ardelt. In the future, it was planned to use elements from the Jagdpanzer 38 D in the design of these self-propelled guns - chassis elements and the Tatra 103 diesel engine. However, the design was not completed before the end of the war.

Thus, we can say that "waffern-tragers" could well replace self-propelled guns on tank chassis with 88, 105, 128 and 150 mm caliber guns on the battlefield. Moreover, vehicles with 88-mm anti-tank guns in recent months wars were already in production.

It is interesting to cite data on the device of Ardelta's "waffentrager" and data on its testing in the Soviet Union, carried out in the spring of 1946.

Serial sample of the "Waffentrager" Ardelt, left view. NIBT training ground, spring 1946. On the shield and hull there are inscriptions indicating the thickness of the armor (TsMVS)

Machine device

The body of the self-propelled gun was quite simple in design and was made of sheets of rolled armor 8-20 mm thick, connected by rivets and welding. He could withstand hits from simple (non-armor-piercing) bullets of normal caliber and small fragments. Armament consisted of an 88 mm PaK 43 anti-tank gun mounted on a pedestal mount in the rear of the hull. The pedestal was attached to a special U-shaped beam installed across the body. The gun had a regular upper machine, lifting and turning mechanisms, sights and a trigger. The gun had a circular fire on the horizon. In front and partly from the sides, the calculation was covered with an armored shield 5 mm thick. In the stowed position, the barrel was fixed with the help of a special scissor-like support fixed on the front hull sheet. The ammunition was placed in three places - in a box mounted on the inside of the shield (6 shells) and in two boxes (12 shells each) in the rear of the hull.

The power plant consisted of a Maybach HL-42 carbureted four-stroke six-cylinder engine, mounted in front of the hull on the right along the way (such 100 hp engines were used on German armored personnel carriers Sd. Kfz. 250 and 251). Engine cooling - liquid, coolant circulation was carried out by a centrifugal pump. The engine power system consisted of a fuel priming pump, a Solex carburetor, an intake manifold, an air cleaner and two fuel tanks with a capacity of 60 liters each, located to the right and left of the pedestal installation of the gun.

The transmission of the "waffentrager" included an intermediate gearbox (guitar), a main clutch, a gearbox, a turning mechanism and final drives. The main friction clutch is dry, multi-disc, automobile. Gearbox - automotive, four-speed, with a mechanical gear shift, four forward and one back. The turning mechanism is a double differential, equipped with additional stopping brakes driven by a special pedal.

"Waffentrager" Ardelta, captured by the Red Army in the Wandisch-Buchholz region (southeast of Berlin). April 1945 (ASKM)

The rotation of the self-propelled gun was carried out by braking the corresponding brake drum, while one caterpillar could not be completely braked, as a result of which it was impossible to turn the car on the spot. The final drive was a single-stage gearbox with cylindrical gears.

The undercarriage used all-metal track rollers, structurally similar to the Hetzer self-propelled rollers, but without rubber tires. Suspension and caterpillars were used "Hetzer".

The electrical equipment was made according to a single-wire circuit and consisted of a generator with a relay-regulator, one storage battery (installed in a special box behind the back of the driver's seat), an electric starter and a road headlight.

The crew of the car consisted of four people. The driver was located in front of the body on the left in the car seat. The machine was controlled using levers and three pedals, the efforts on which were 20-25 and 15-20 kg, respectively. The operation of the units was controlled using only three instruments - a tachometer, an oil pressure gauge and an aerothermometer of the liquid in the cooling system. The driver-mechanic observed the road in the stowed position directly from the front of the hull, in the combat position - through the viewing slot in the folding armor plate. Heating, lighting and ventilation of the driver's seat were absent.

The gunner was located to the left of the gun, at the sight and guidance mechanisms, on a special seat that rotated along with the gun machine. The commander and loader were placed on the seats at the rear of the vehicle. When firing, the commander was next to the car and corrected the fire. The Waffentrager was equipped with an intercom between the driver and the commander.

The serial version of the "waffentrager" Ardelt, left on the streets of the city of Brandenburg. May 1945 (ASKM)

It should be noted that shooting from the move was impossible due to the lack of a fence for the calculation. At the same time, there were excellent conditions for firing from a place, since, due to the low line of fire, it was possible to load the gun even while on the ground.

Machine testing

In the spring of 1946, the Waffentrager, which had previously been at the exhibition of captured equipment, was delivered to a training ground in Kubinka near Moscow. In our documents, it was called "an open German self-propelled gun with an 88-mm gun RaK 43". Due to the "insufficient reliability of the self-propelled unit, due to design and technological flaws, as well as unsatisfactory technical condition," it was not possible to conduct tests in full. In total, the car traveled 200 kilometers, and 56 shots were fired from the gun. Moreover, due to the lack of a regular German sight, shooting was carried out using a Japanese telescopic sight mounted on an aiming device using a specially made bracket. It is interesting to cite the conclusions made in the report by our testers. Apparently, they did not know what class to attribute this vehicle to - in terms of mass it was light, and in terms of armament it corresponded to medium or heavy self-propelled guns:

“The German self-propelled artillery mount with the RaK-43 cannon belongs to the class of open self-propelled mounts with circular fire. In terms of weight (11.2 tons), it can be attributed to light self-propelled units of the ZSU-37 and SU-76 types; in terms of shot power (52500 kgm) to heavy self-propelled units such as ISU-152 and Ferdinand and is inferior in this respect to SU-100 and ISU-122 units.

When creating it were used:
- 88 mm anti-tank gun RaK-43, previously installed on the self-propelled guns "Hornisse";
- HL-42 engine, main clutch, gearbox, turning mechanism and final drives from German light half-track tractors;
- caterpillars from the tank "Prague" 38-T.

The specified unification of most of the main units indicates the desire to reduce the cost and mass production of a new model of self-propelled guns.

However, a number of weak points of the installation are the engine cooling system, the gearshift mechanism, the lack of crew protection from dust, dirt and precipitation, fastening the covers of the road wheels - testify to the tight deadlines for the design, development and manufacture of the first batch of machines.

The fundamental idea of the design of the installation - the open placement of an artillery system with a circular fire - has fully justified itself. This event was able to provide good conditions work of the calculation, essentially not different from the working conditions of the calculations of field artillery systems.

Loading guns "waffentrager" Ardelta at a heading angle of 0 degrees. The second calculation number takes shots from the box on the armor shield. The convenience of the first number was achieved by tilting the aft platform, on which the right leg of the loader stands. NIBT polygon, spring 1946 (ASKM)

During the tests, our specialists assessed weapons, dynamic and operational performance and crew jobs. In particular, it was noted that the accuracy of the gun battle when firing from a place (at a distance of 1000 m) is quite satisfactory, the probable deviations in height and direction did not exceed 0.22 m. The rate of fire (when firing from a place at a stationary target) was 7.4 shots per minute, which is also considered a good indicator. It was noted that the hydropneumatic balancing mechanism provides constant efforts on the flywheel handle of the lifting mechanism at elevation angles from -8 to +40 degrees. At the same time, the lifting mechanism provided a low vertical guidance speed and created great efforts on the flywheel handle. The rotary mechanism, on the contrary, provided sufficient guidance speed along the horizon and normal efforts on the flywheel handle. And the removal of the trunnions of the oscillating part of the gun back relative to the center of the pedestal installation reduced the amount of barrel extension, contributed to balancing the firing platform and increased the elevation angle of the gun.

According to the dynamic indicators, a good smooth running of the car, unsatisfactory maneuverability (due to the use of a double differential as a turning mechanism) and a small power reserve (111 km on an asphalt highway and 62 km on a dirt road) were noted.

In the assessment of jobs, it was said that the fact that the commander was outside the vehicle during the shooting provides him with the convenience of observation. The gunner was placed on the seat to the left of the gun, at the guidance and sight mechanisms, which he was comfortable using. The loader during firing could be to the right or left of the gun. The convenience of his work was ensured by folding the aft platform. During the movement, the loader and the commander were in the rear seats of the firing platform, which were very uncomfortable - hard and insufficient in size.

The driver during the firing acted as an ammunition carrier. It was noted that the disadvantage of the driver's seat was the significant distance of the control pedals from the seat, the insufficient number of control devices and heat(up to 70 degrees) due to the ejection of air heated by the engine into the control compartment. A common drawback of all jobs when driving was the lack of protection from rain, snow, dust and dirt. The advantages of the car were:

"one. Powerful artillery system, providing an armor-piercing projectile with a manpower of 52500 kgm at an initial speed of 1000 m / s.

2. Open placement of the gun, providing good working conditions for the calculation.

3. Satisfactory stability of the installation, achieved by using a muzzle brake, a large recoil length and a good placement of the center of gravity.

4. High maneuverability of fire, provided with a circular fire and a unitary shot.

5. Fast transfer of fire in any sector of fire, achieved by turning the gun with the rotary mechanism turned off.

6. Quick transition from traveling to combat position.

7. Successful gun stopper in a stowed way, securely and simply fixing the gun.

8. Compact placement of units of the engine compartment, achieved by introducing an intermediate gearbox between the engine and the main clutch.

However, the number of disadvantages exceeded the number of advantages. Among the main ones in the test report were the following:

"one. Specific power - 9 hp / t - is insufficient.

2. The lack of protection of the driver from the blast wave during shelling and the lack of fences for the calculation exclude shooting from the move and short stops.

3. Correction of fire by the gunner through the sight and through the hatch of the armored shield is impossible due to the covering of the target and the tracer by powder gases.

4. The absence of an easily removable awning over the firing platform and a protective cap over the control compartment. As a result, the crew is completely unprotected from dust, dirt and precipitation.

5. A defect in the engine cooling system, which consists in the following: there is no tensioner for the drive belt to the fan, the formation of oncoming air flows heated by the engine and ejected by the fan through the shutters in the front sheet and external (especially with a headwind) entering the engine compartment through the shutters .

6. Insufficient reliability of the gear shift mechanism.

7. Unreliable fastening of the covers of the suspension rollers.

8. Significant removal of the control pedals from the driver's seat.

9. Unsuccessful design of the seats of the firing platform.

10. Departure in front of the tracks of the towing loops, as a result of which the height of the overcome vertical obstacles is limited.

11. Insufficient transportable supply of shells.

Ardelt's Waffentrager layout: 1 - fan and radiator, 2 - engine, 3 - air cleaner, 4 - intermediate gearbox, 5 - main clutch, 6 - suspension unit, 7 - steering wheel, 8 - ammunition rack, 9 - fuel tanks, 10 - battery, 11 - gear change, 12 - driver's seat, 13 - gearbox rocker, 14 - instrument panel, 15 - double differential, 16 - parking brake, 17 - final drive, 18 - drive wheel, 19 - axle pedestal installation, 20 - calculation seats

In the conclusion of the test report on the Waffentrager Ardelt, the following was said:

“The design features of the self-propelled guns can be primarily attributed to its special base. According to the results of the design study, it can be assumed that when creating this object, the task was to maximize the use of units and components produced by the German car and tank building and place them in a special building.

Along with this, a number of design flaws and insufficient reliability indicate that the development and creation of the machine was not completed and was probably carried out in a short time.

It is also necessary to note the compact placement of the units of the engine-transmission compartment. This was achieved by introducing an intermediate gearbox (guitar) between the engine and gearbox, which made it possible to avoid their usual co-axial arrangement.

Attention is drawn to the provision of free access to the ammunition and gun during loading due to the lack of sides, stern and roof at the firing platform, the presence of a folding aft platform and the placement of the ammunition in places convenient for reaching.

Most characteristic feature tested self-propelled installation in terms of weight is that the share of installation of weapons and ammunition accounts for up to 30% of the total weight. In terms of shot power, the tested self-propelled guns are far out of the light class (in terms of weight) and are equivalent to medium and heavy self-propelled guns.

Placing the crew of the "Waffentrager" Ardelta on the march. NIBT polygon, spring 1946 (ASKM)

At the same time, this machine in terms of specific shot power (the ratio of shot power to combat weight) is significantly superior to all hitherto known vehicles.

In general, this self-propelled unit has a number of significant drawbacks due to a design flaw and therefore cannot be used as a model for creating a domestic installation of this type. Of practical interest in this self-propelled guns are the following data: the layout of the machine as a whole and the idea of combining powerful weapons and a light base of a special type.

A 100 mm caliber gun with initial speed 1000 m / s, installed on a special base, created from the units of the T-44 or T-54 tank.

The test sample of the “waffentrager” designed by Ardelt has survived to this day, and is currently on display at the military history museum of armored weapons and equipment in Kubinka near Moscow.

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13-04-2015, 20:13

Hello to all fans of tank battles, the site is with you! Friends, now we will talk about a very dangerous and powerful machine, German tank destroyer ninth level, in front of you Waffenträger auf Pz. IV guide.

Despite all its strength, the presence various benefits and shortcomings, there are very few applications for this device, or rather, only one. this is the most classic self-propelled gun, its purpose is to cause the maximum amount of damage, but in order to succeed in this, it is important to understand what kind of machine is in front of you.

TTX Waffenträger auf Pz. IV

First of all, you have to understand that the safety margin at your disposal is not bad, it can even be called standard for the PT-9, but more importantly, the base viewing radius of 370 meters is very mediocre.

However, most weak side this self-propelled gun is survival and I'll start with the fact that Waffenträger auf Pz. IV characteristics bookings are incredibly bad. From any angle, in any projection, even from the forehead, absolutely everything pierces us. In addition, the engine and fuel tanks are located in the front of the hull, so the frequent crits of these modules and fires will pester you regularly.

However, such weak armor and the vulnerable structure of the car are perfectly compensated by stealth. has a low silhouette, which is why it is very difficult to detect it in the bushes or just illuminate it at long distances, this should be used in every battle.

As for driving performance, in our case they are far from the best, but at the same time not bad. Waffenträger auf Pz. IV tank has a moderate maximum speed, worthy indicators of dynamics and tolerable maneuverability. By the way, I want to note that when moving backward, our speed is very low, only 12 km / h, it is important to remember this.

gun

On the issue of weapons, this unit surpassed many, precisely because of the firepower WT auf Pz. IV to be afraid of even the top heavyweights, in addition, we are given two guns to choose from, which we will talk about now.

First I want to say that there is Waffenträger auf Pz. IV gun caliber 128 mm, which has a powerful, but far from a record-breaking alpha strike, however, it has a high rate of fire and excellent damage per minute, as many as 2900 units without equipment and perks.

This barrel has very high armor penetration rates, due to which at any distance Waffenträger auf Pz. IV World of Tanks can deal damage to an overwhelming number of opponents, even when shooting head-on. But it’s worth carrying about 10 sub-calibers with simply transcendental penetration, they can come in handy.

Accuracy is another strong point of this gun. The compact dispersion is another help when shooting even at very long distances, while the aiming speed is Tank Destroyer Waffenträger auf Pz. IV excellent, and stabilization is also available.

Another advantage is the fully rotating deckhouse, thanks to which you will never have problems with UGN. Here are the corners vertical aiming we are strange. In the front sector, the trunk bends down only 2 degrees, but from the side and stern, this figure increases to 5 degrees. In addition, if you turn the gun forward, the elevation angle reaches 45 degrees, but when you turn back, this figure drops 14 degrees.

The second armament option is a 150-millimeter “bob”, which, together with the caliber, significantly increases damage per minute. However, this weapon reloads more slowly, which is why in theory you can deal 2650 damage per minute, which is also quite decent.

But I didn’t say “in theory” in vain, because for this barrel, things are much worse with penetration, exactly, as well as with accuracy. That is, the effectiveness of shooting is noticeably reduced, so you will either have to shoot a lot of gold, or have fun with land mines, in last case Waffenträger auf Pz. IV tank will definitely not be able to keep a stable average damage.

The advantages of this barrel is that in the front sector the vertical declination angle is 4 degrees.

Summing up the first result in terms of weapons, it’s worth saying that if you want to play seriously, consistently deal a ton of damage and feel comfortable, it’s better to give preference to the first gun. But if on Waffenträger auf Pz. IV WoT you decide to make fun of it, it is quite possible to try the second option, however, stability in this case should not be expected.

Advantages and disadvantages

Because General characteristics our German self-propelled guns have already been considered, as well as the situation with weapons, it's time to decide on the strongest and weakest sides of the vehicle. But first I want to note that highlighting the advantages and disadvantages, as well as Waffenträger auf Pz. IV World of Tanks, and we will also conduct further conversation precisely from the position that a 128-mm cannon is installed on board.
Pros:
High masking factor;
Good mobility;
Powerful alphastray and excellent damage per minute;
Very high penetration;
Excellent accuracy rates;
The presence of a fully rotating cabin.
Minuses:
Small viewing range;
Very weak booking;
Frequent tank and engine crits associated with fires;
Problematic elevation angles.

Equipment for the Waffenträger auf Pz. IV

As you can see, the number of advantages greatly outweighs the number of disadvantages, but still take the time to choose additional modules you need to install them correctly. To achieve optimal results, equipment on the Waffenträger auf Pz. IV tank put the following:
1. - the most necessary module that will make your huge firepower even more.
2. or - giving priority to one of the options is depending on the leveling of your crew, that is, the availability of learned skills for review.
3. - will give you the opportunity to glow even less, which also makes sense, because our survival depends on stealth.

However, if you know how to play very carefully, you can and want to neglect disguise for the sake of even more comfortable dealing damage, the third point can be replaced with , because even a good aiming speed can be made even better.

Crew training

At the beginning, it was already said that we have in our hands an absolutely classic self-propelled anti-tank installation in the understanding of the majority. Accordingly, we will also be pumping skills for a crew of 6 people according to a well-known scenario, in other words, for Waffenträger auf Pz. IV perks examined in the following order:
Commander - , , , .
Gunner - , , , .
Driver mechanic - , , , .
Radio operator - , , , .
Loader - , , , .
Loader - , , , .

Equipment for the Waffenträger auf Pz. IV

No matter how carefully and prudently you play, you should not enter the battlefield without consumables, because anything can happen in a battle. Of course, the best option would be to buy,,, where the last option is very dangerous to change to due to the high fire hazard. But when the supply of silver credits is running low, it is better to carry on Tank Destroyer Waffenträger auf Pz. IV equipment in the form , , , such a set may also suffice.

Game tactics on the Waffenträger auf Pz. IV

Due to the terrible picturesqueness and vulnerability in close combat, during the battle on this device, you must always rely only on its weapons and your own caution. That is why for Waffenträger auf Pz. IV tactics consists in taking the most distant position with the presence of dense vegetation, in order to find you as difficult as possible.

This principle of the game makes you the least vulnerable, besides, an accurate and penetrating weapon favors a similar style of play. As soon as there is light and the possibility of shooting, german tank Waffenträger auf Pz. IV can already fire, that is, you must always be ready and when taking a position, remember about the problematic elevation angles.

By the way, there is one very useful advice which can and should always be used. When playing on Tank Destroyer Waffenträger auf Pz. IV WoT try to get behind the enemy. They all pierce you in any projection equally easily, but when turning the stern, the chance of fire and engine damage is minimized.

In addition, rolling out on the enemy astern, Waffenträger auf Pz. IV tank minimizes the area of damage when shooting at yourself due to the rear location of the cabin, increases the angle of declination, and you can also hide faster after the shot, because you will roll forward.

Otherwise, try to never let the enemy near you, play as carefully as possible, constantly monitor the mini-map and remember that Waffenträger auf Pz. IV World of Tanks afraid of artillery like fire, so think about decent cover when choosing a position.

Hi all! With you, aces.gg, and today we will talk about tank destroyers with an excellent weapon, a paper hull and simply unimaginable disguise. Meet the Waffenträger auf Pz. IV!

After we bought this unit, first of all we examine the engine, then the suspension, and after that I would advise you to examine the 12.8 cm gun. It does not depend on premium shells, shoots accurately and has a very good one-time damage.

guns

We have a choice between two weapons. Let's consider.

The first and, I think, more reasonable choice would be the 12.8 cm Kanone L/61 gun. Here we get both an acceptable rate of fire and penetration of 276 mm armor-piercing projectiles. One of the main advantages of the gun is the mixing and speed of the projectile. We converge in 2.1 seconds and send an armor-piercing projectile at a speed of 1200 m/s! And if you use sub-caliber shells, then you will need to get used to the projectile flight speed of 1500 m / s.

The second tool is complete opposite 12.8 cm Kanone L/61. Instead of high speed projectile flight and accuracy, we get a large one-time damage, which is 750 units and premium HEAT shells. 15 cm Pak L/38 has more disadvantages than advantages, for many players it is chosen precisely because of the alpha strike.

So, let's summarize the first result, highlight the strengths and weaknesses.

The advantages of this tank destroyer:
1. The presence of two top guns.
2. Excellent one-time damage for a 15 cm gun
3. Excellent accuracy of the 12.8 cm gun
4. Good dynamics
5. 360° rotating tower.
6. Low silhouette and good camouflage.

Negative sides:
1. Hull from a Tier V tank and, as a result, mediocre armor
2. Small gun depression (-5)
3. The location of the tower in the rear of the hull
4. Frequent critical engine damage

Selection additional equipment on the tank

Now we will talk about the selection of modules for the Waffenträger auf Pz. IV. We put the following:
reinforced pickup drives,
gun rammer large caliber and
enlightened optics.

Crew training

Crew training:

Commander -
sixth Sense,
repair,
the Brotherhood of War,
disguise
Gunner -
repair,
smooth turn of the tower,
the Brotherhood of War,
disguise
Driver mechanic -
repair,
smooth move,
the Brotherhood of War,
offroad king.
Radio operator -
repair,
radio intercept,
the Brotherhood of War,
disguise
Loader -
repair,
desperate,
the Brotherhood of War,
disguise
Loader -
repair,
non-contact ammo rack,
the Brotherhood of War,
disguise

Equipment

Here's another standard, namely:
small repair kit
small first aid kit and
manual fire extinguisher. I advise you to use premium equipment, which is quite expensive, but can significantly increase the survivability of your vehicle in battle. So feel free to put on your tank
large repair kit
large first aid kit and
automatic fire extinguisher.

Use in combat

Waffenträger auf Pz. IV is one of the best stealth killers. Camouflage and the most accurate 12.8 cm gun allows you to shoot from the Invis without fear of a shot in return. Thanks to the tower, we can support the allies without wasting time on mixing. Therefore, the task of our tank destroyers will be to support the rush of allies on medium and long distances. The 15 cm gun is more suitable for medium and close ranges, but our cardboard body will often interfere with the implementation of this gun.

The most important thing is not to be alone. If you noticed a bush on the flank, but the allies did not go there, then it is better to abandon this idea. We have no drum, no armor, and we will absorb land mines like a sponge. Artillery is our enemy number one. In battles with 3-5 artillery, you must be extremely careful. We are an easy target for the enemy, and even more appetizing for artillery. Artillery one-shots are not uncommon and are worth getting used to.

Outcome

An almost perfect killing machine falls into our hands. They don't see us, but we kill. Such a sniper. Success depends on right occupation positions, and don't forget to look at the minimap. This tank destroyer has long found its fans, especially since it is on the way to the drum machine of death.

A squire worthy of becoming a knight.

Today we will talk about one of the most interesting and non-standard cars in our game. The German Tier IX Tank Destroyer, which is a classic "glass cannon", is quite variable in terms of gameplay and can become a good trainer to practice and compare different combat tactics.

The history of the emergence of a new type of self-propelled guns.

Waffentrager can be translated from German as "squire". The name perfectly reflects the purpose of the combat vehicle. In fact, the waffentrager is a mobile carriage, primarily not a combat vehicle, but a gun transporter. The mobility of artillery became of decisive importance, and it was necessary to solve the problem expressed by the availability a large number field guns, the transportation of which could not be carried out as quickly as required in the new war. This problem was supposed to be solved by a new type of self-propelled units, to which the following requirements were put forward: the utmost simplicity and low cost of production, as well as reliability, hence unification with existing serial vehicles; the ability of one machine to transport a number of different guns of different sizes, calibers, approximately the same mass; the ability to quickly mount / dismantle the gun on the machine; the possibility of effective firing from a gun mounted on this conveyor without the need for mandatory dismantling in position; adequate cross-country ability and mobility of the machine.
The development of machines of this class began in Germany at the end of 1942. Initially, it was planned to design two versions of the "waffentragers": the first, on which it was planned to install a 75-mm L / 70 gun, a 105-mm FH 18 howitzer or a 37-mm Flak 18 anti-aircraft gun, and a second, heavier one, for the 88-mm RaK 43 gun , 150 mm FH 43 howitzers or 128 mm K 43 guns.
Krupp, Rheinmetall-Borsig and Steyr-Daimler-Puch were initially involved in the creation of "waffentragers". Krupp presented three different designs of "waffentragers" (with 88 mm PaK 43 guns) developed by three design bureaus: the Welfert group, the Egen group and the Burger group. A report dated May 4, 1944 indicated that the assembly of the first Waffentrager samples from Rheinmetall and Steyr-Daimler-Puch was being delayed. Nevertheless, by the end of the summer, the cars were assembled.

A prototype Waffentrager from Steyr-Daimler-Puch. Spring 1945.

General view of the serial sample of the Waffentrager Ardelta.
In August 1944, prototypes of the Waffentragers were demonstrated. Of all these, Ardelt's machine was the lightest and cheapest. At the same time, this sample met the necessary requirements for mobility and tactical use, and was also very simple in design.
If the development of waffentragers intended for transporting the most massive guns was successfully completed (prototypes of various design groups were presented to the commission and tested at the test sites, and the winner of the competition went into series and managed to fight), then the projects for heavy guns were far from complete. The delay in the development of these machines is due to the much greater spread of the tools listed above, and therefore the priority of machines for them.
Sketches of one of the variants with various weapons.
It is worth noting that this version of the waffentrager was rejected by the expert commission and had almost no chance of reaching mass production. The fact is that at the beginning of 1944, it was decided to withdraw from production. Of the available cheap and mass-produced chassis, it was decided to leave the modified ones in production and priority was given to projects based on them. Although it is quite possible to re-equip already manufactured tanks for a self-propelled carriage.

What to expect from the "mobile carriage" in the game?

After a long (and I hope not too tiring) historical digression, let's move on to a review of the performance characteristics of our "groove".
The thing that is quite easy to deal with is armor. She is not. Just no and deal with it. Without any exaggeration, any weapon of the enemy you meet is capable of piercing your cabin with a landmine. And for a confident defeat in any projection at any distance, an armor-piercing projectile, even stock guns, is enough. Is it some kind of low-level light tank will occasionally surprise you with non-penetration. At the same time, it is worth recalling that for all vehicles, damage does not pass when it hits the barrel. And if for other tanks and self-propelled guns this is a relative rarity, then in the frontal projection of the cabin, the gun occupies not such a small share. And the felling itself is much smaller than that of or, for example, and getting into it is not so easy if the hull is hidden behind an indestructible obstacle or a fold in the terrain, and you stick out not for a whole minute. And for all its "cardboardness" and small dimensions, the vehicle has as many as 1600 hit points, and this is the fifth indicator out of nine tank destroyers IX, which still gives the right to make one or two mistakes in battle. It is also worth noting that the engine is in the front, which means it will often be disabled by blows from the front.

Our squire outperforms all its competitors by 20…30 meters of basic vision, which becomes even more noticeable when using optics or a stereo tube, combat fraternity and other crew perks that affect visibility. At the same time, the vehicle also has a very good concealment coefficient, which allows it to win sniper duels with other tank destroyers without having armor for this. Also, the machine can confidently highlight itself without the risk of being detected ahead of time, and without sharing experience or credits with allies for their reconnaissance activities. High visibility and good camouflage on many maps are crucial in the difficult ending of an even battle, when each team has a small number of vehicles left. Having lived to the end of the battle, you will become real problem even for a Tier X vehicle, if left face to face with it.

About 15 horsepower per ton, top speed of 38 km / h, good cross-country ability - all this allows you to be in the part of the map where you are most needed now. Changing flank, returning to defeat a base capture or supporting a medium tank attack are real challenges for Pazik.

Four Tier IX tank destroyers have a better DPM than the Waffentrager. But it was not for nothing that I indicated the "potential" average damage per minute in the diagram. Other fighters have significant difficulties in realizing their DPM "a. Part of the competitors (YagdTigr, Tortois and T95) very often cannot inflict damage due to the highly limited movement speed, which does not allow them to constantly be in position for effective fire; some vehicles (Foch , SU-122 and both British) have rather modest one-time damage and cannot seriously harm the enemy in a situation where he is substituted for only one shot; someone may lose damage due to low accuracy for tank destroyers (Soviet and American vehicles ), either insufficient for confident fire on well-protected opponents of armor penetration with the base projectile (British, Foch and SU-122), or the inability to hit an enemy maneuvering at a long distance due to the relatively low speed of the projectile (Ob. 704 and Americans).

The totality of Waffentrager's performance characteristics allows him to maximize his potential DPM, constantly being in the most suitable position, having a rare combination of high accuracy, projectile speed, armor penetration, rate of fire and one-time damage.

At Tier IX, only three tank destroyers have a 360-degree wheelhouse, which distinguishes them from competitors with limited horizontal aiming angles.
Waffentragers have an open cabin (it would be more appropriate to call it a bulletproof shield), which means that the bonus from ventilation is already taken into account in the performance characteristics and there is no possibility to use the corresponding equipment. This frees up a third slot for players who prefer to put a fan on their machines.

What tool to use?

If the previous machine (Rhm.-Borsig Waffenträger) has two absolutely equivalent guns and both are quite popular with players, then the 15cm gun is almost never in demand. Consider its pros and cons in relation to 12.8cm:
+ more one-time damage;
+ larger caliber, which more often allows you to use the "rule of three calibers";
+ noticeably better ratio of horsepower per ton;
+ high damage high-explosive projectile, which allows you to finish off the enemy with a small balance of durability points;
- low penetration by both basic and premium shells;
- low projectile speed;
- the worst accuracy and time of information;
- worst damage per minute;
- worse economic performance, due to the reality of the need to use cumulative projectiles;
- more uncamouflage after the shot.
As you can see, a gun with a large caliber has quite a few pluses, but the minuses still outweigh them. And if on Level VIII the main plus in the difference between 490 and 750 single damage looks impressive, then here the choice is already between 560 and 750 damage, and the opponents have more hit points on average, and even more armor.
Although it is also not worth completely rejecting the possibility of using large-caliber guns. He has his connoisseurs, although there are not so many of them.

And why do they drive backwards, what's wrong with them?

Indeed, in a random house you can often see "grooves" reversing on the enemy. The meaning of this action is not even one.
Firstly, the rear location of the cabin forces you to use reverse to start shooting earlier and not show the enemy your entire car, but only a small part of it.
Secondly, if you are standing in position and realized that the enemy has noticed you, then by leaving "to the save" in front of you, you get out of the attack much faster, taking away precious time from the enemy for information.
Thirdly, the peculiarity of the waffentrager is that its gun has different vertical aiming angles at different positions of the gun. When you turn the gun back, you have a well lowered gun barrel, but it does not have a high angle of elevation. When turning forward, the gun starts to rise perfectly (up to 45 degrees, which is more than enough in almost any situation), but it goes down much worse. Therefore, being on a hill, it is better to stand stern or side to the enemy in order to better shoot through opponents below.

Ambush in the bushes or a daring attack?

As mentioned above, the machine is quite flexible and allows for completely different tactics. The choice between them is about the same as on the previous machine in the development tree.
The first merge of the game is suitable for most players. It does not require special skill to play or habit. This is a standard tactic for tank destroyers of ambush, bushes and fire from a long distance based on foreign intelligence data. Such behavior in combat should be familiar to everyone and there is no point in describing it in detail.
The unequivocal choice is a 12.8cm caliber gun. Questions to use the rammer or not should also not arise from players who have pumped even their first level IX. It is also absolutely necessary to use a camouflage net. The remaining slot can be assigned to a stereo tube, because allies often end before enemies, and remaining blind for a "glass cannon" is certain death. Either drive information is a good alternative. It is also possible to use chocolate instead of a first aid kit, rem. kit or a fire extinguisher, since tank destroyers will not be under enemy fire so often. And if it came to this, then it is unlikely that an extra first-aid kit will save you. It is critically important for the crew to have the Disguise and Sixth Sense perks.
The second style of play is suitable for more experienced players. And they are quite popular. Playing the whole battle "in the bush" is boring for many, and even so you can behave in battle on a large number of vehicles (we all saw even Mouse, who is fond of this tactics). The unique performance characteristics of the waffentrager allow us to use tactics that are unrealistic on most tank destroyers - active play with support for medium tank attacks, breakthrough in vulnerable areas, quick and frequent change of positions, as well as playing in the city from behind the backs of heavy tanks. Hiding a small car behind an allied TT is not so difficult, all that remains is to catch enemies on reload. Here it is already possible to use a 15cm gun, although this is the destiny of a special category of aesthetes rather than a mass player. But the stereo tube should definitely be replaced with anti-reflective optics, of course, you shouldn’t touch the rammer, but using a camouflage net (after all, it’s not uncommon to stand in the bushes in any case) or aiming drives is already the choice of a particular player. Also, the author would not advise changing the standard first-aid kit / rem. kit / fire extinguisher, since the car will receive various damage very often when playing aggressively. Although it is quite possible to use improved fuel or chocolate, if there is a desire and financial possibilities. At the same time, in a risky attack, it feels even better than its predecessor due to more horsepower per ton. The set of crew perks will be different from the classic version of the "bush" vehicles. I would recommend paying attention to: the commander's "jack of all trades", which allows him to maintain efficiency with not rare crew shell shocks; the "king of off-road" driver will help you move around the map even faster; The "contactless ammunition rack" of the loader will be very useful, and "repair" should be pumped even earlier than "camouflage", one should not forget about the universally useful " military brotherhood". As you can see, an active game (not only on this car, but in general) is much more demanding on the experience of the crew. In general, four perks will already be enough to have everything you need. Despite the fact that with classic tactics, three will be enough, and you can get by with two.
In any case, one should not forget that for many players, the waffentrager is priority target, they can target you if you have a Tier X tank next to you. The great danger and ease of destruction attract too much attention.

financial component.

Waffentrager allows you to have very good average damage for a tier IX, while there is practically no real need to use premium shells if you are playing with the most popular 12.8cm gun. Excellent vision allows you to highlight targets to yourself without sharing damage rewards with allies. Moreover, even receive deductions from them for your reconnaissance. data. All this provides Pazik with excellent opportunities for earning credits, allowing him to go into a stable and good balance per battle. Either play using premium equipment without losing a lot of money, or don't spend a lot of money playing without a premium account.

Thank you for your attention, good fights and successful experiments!
Author: lordCorvin.

13-04-2015, 20:13

Hello to all fans of tank battles, the site is with you! Friends, now we are going to talk about a very dangerous and powerful vehicle, a German tank destroyer of the ninth level, in front of you Waffenträger auf Pz. IV guide.

Despite all its strength, the presence of various advantages and disadvantages, there are very few applications for this device, or rather, only one. this is the most classic self-propelled gun, its purpose is to cause the maximum amount of damage, but in order to succeed in this, it is important to understand what kind of machine is in front of you.

TTX Waffenträger auf Pz. IV

However, the weakest side of this self-propelled gun is survival, and I'll start with the fact that Waffenträger auf Pz. IV characteristics bookings are incredibly bad. From any angle, in any projection, even from the forehead, absolutely everything pierces us. In addition, the engine and fuel tanks are located in the front of the hull, so the frequent crits of these modules and fires will pester you regularly.

As for driving performance, in our case they are far from the best, but at the same time not bad. Waffenträger auf Pz. IV tank has a moderate top speed, decent dynamics and tolerable maneuverability. By the way, I want to note that when moving backward, our speed is very low, only 12 km / h, it is important to remember this.

gun

Another advantage is the fully rotating deckhouse, thanks to which you will never have problems with UGN. But our vertical aiming angles are strange. In the front sector, the trunk bends down only 2 degrees, but from the side and stern, this figure increases to 5 degrees. In addition, if you turn the gun forward, the elevation angle reaches 45 degrees, but when you turn back, this figure drops 14 degrees.

But I didn’t say “in theory” in vain, because for this barrel, things are much worse with penetration, exactly, as well as with accuracy. That is, the effectiveness of shooting is noticeably reduced, so you will either have to shoot a lot of gold, or have fun with land mines, in the latter case Waffenträger auf Pz. IV tank will definitely not be able to keep a stable average damage.

The advantages of this barrel is that in the front sector the vertical declination angle is 4 degrees.

Advantages and disadvantages

Since the general characteristics of our German self-propelled gun have already been considered, as well as the situation with weapons, it's time to decide on the strongest and weakest sides of the vehicle. But first I want to note that highlighting the advantages and disadvantages, as well as Waffenträger auf Pz. IV World of Tanks, and we will also conduct further conversation precisely from the position that a 128-mm cannon is installed on board.
Pros:
High masking factor;
Good mobility;
Powerful alphastray and excellent damage per minute;
Very high penetration;
Excellent accuracy rates;
The presence of a fully rotating cabin.
Minuses:
Small viewing range;
Very weak booking;
Frequent tank and engine crits associated with fires;
Problematic elevation angles.

Equipment for the Waffenträger auf Pz. IV

As you can see, the number of advantages far outweighs the number of disadvantages, but you still need to take the time to choose additional modules and install them correctly. To achieve optimal results, equipment on the Waffenträger auf Pz. IV tank put the following:
1. - the most necessary module that will make your huge firepower even greater.
2. or - giving priority to one of the options is depending on the leveling of your crew, that is, the availability of learned skills for review.
3. - will give you the opportunity to glow even less, which also makes sense, because our survival depends on stealth.

Crew training

Equipment for the Waffenträger auf Pz. IV

Game tactics on the Waffenträger auf Pz. IV

This principle of the game makes you the least vulnerable, besides, an accurate and penetrating weapon favors a similar style of play. As soon as there is light and the possibility of shooting, German tank Waffenträger auf Pz. IV can already fire, that is, you must always be ready and when taking a position, remember about the problematic elevation angles.

By the way, there is one very practical advice that you can and should always use. When playing on Tank Destroyer Waffenträger auf Pz. IV WoT try to get behind the enemy. They all pierce you in any projection equally easily, but when turning the stern, the chance of fire and engine damage is minimized.