Kugelpanzer
Sign in to savethumb|Side view of the vehicle The Kugelpanzer (German for "ball tank") was a one-man armoured vehicle built by Nazi Germany during World War II. The history of the vehicle is practically unknown other than the fact that at least one example was exported to the Empire of Japan and used by the Kwantung Army. The machine remains something of a mystery due to the lack of records and the incompleteness of the sole surviving model.
Key facts
- Weapon.is_vehicle
- yes
- Weapon.name
- Kugelpanzer
- Weapon.image
- File:Kugelpanzer 2025.jpg
- Weapon.image_size
- 300
- Weapon.caption
- The Kugelpanzer at the Kubinka Tank Museum
- Weapon.origin
- Nazi Germany
- Weapon.type
- Either light tank or armoured car
- Weapon.service
- 1945
- Weapon.manufacturer
- Krupp (presumed)
- Weapon.production_date
- 1945
- Weapon.number
- 1 (known)
- Weapon.length
- 1.7 meters (5.5 feet)
- Weapon.height
- 1.5 meters (4.9 feet)
- Weapon.crew
- 1
- Weapon.engine
- Single-cylinder two-stroke engine
- Weapon.suspension
- None
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
7 sectionsContents
- Surviving example
- Theories about the vehicle
- Similar vehicles
- See also
- References
- Books
- External links
thumb|Side view of the vehicle The Kugelpanzer (German for "ball tank") was a one-man armoured vehicle built by Nazi Germany during World War II. The history of the vehicle is practically unknown other than the fact that at least one example was exported to the Empire of Japan and used by the Kwantung Army. The machine remains something of a mystery due to the lack of records and the incompleteness of the sole surviving model.
==Surviving example== Only one example of the Kugelpanzer still exists today. It is on display in the collection of German armored vehicles at the Kubinka Tank Museum in Moscow where it is described simply as "Exhibit No. 37". It is speculated that this vehicle was captured by the Red Army in Manchuria. There is no record of it ever having been used in combat. However, another report states that it was captured at the Kummersdorf proving grounds along with the infamous Maus super-heavy tank. The vehicle was modified after its capture, repainted and its drive removed. In 2000, the original paintwork was restored.