Neubaufahrzeug
Also known as NbFz, New-build Vehicle
The German ' ("new construction vehicle"—a cover name), abbreviated as PzKpfw Nb.Fz', series of tank prototypes were a first attempt to create a medium tank for the Wehrmacht after Adolf Hitler had come to power. Multi-turreted, heavy and slow, they were not considered successful, which led to only five being produced. These were primarily used for propaganda purposes and training, though three took part in the Battle of Norway in 1940. Pictures of the were displayed with different turret models and orientations to fool allied spies; American and Soviet agents independently reported that the G
Key facts
- Weapon.image
- Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-761-221N-06, Norwegen, Panzer "Neubaufahrzeug".jpg
- Weapon.image_size
- 300
- Weapon.caption
- A in Norway in April 1940
- Weapon.origin
- Nazi Germany
- Weapon.type
- Medium tank
- Weapon.is_vehicle
- yes
- Weapon.service
- 1935–1940
- Weapon.used_by
- Nazi Germany
- Weapon.wars
- World War II
- Weapon.designer
- Rheinmetall Krupp
- Weapon.design_date
- 1933–1934
- Weapon.manufacturer
- Rheinmetall
- Weapon.production_date
Article
4 sectionsContents
- Development
- Service history
- References
- External links
The German ' ("new construction vehicle"—a cover name), abbreviated as PzKpfw Nb.Fz', series of tank prototypes were a first attempt to create a medium tank for the Wehrmacht after Adolf Hitler had come to power. Multi-turreted, heavy and slow, they were not considered successful, which led to only five being produced. These were primarily used for propaganda purposes and training, though three took part in the Battle of Norway in 1940. Pictures of the were displayed with different turret models and orientations to fool allied spies; American and Soviet agents independently reported that the Germans had two new heavy tanks, the Panzer V and VI. In reality, these tanks were quite different from the Panzer V Panther and the Panzer VI Tiger.
==Development== thumb|left|Neubaufahrzeug while being repaired Development of the started in 1932 when 6 established design specifications for a new 15 tonne tank to be known as the "". It had many connections to the previous , utilizing many of the same components including the engine and transmission. Initially both Krupp and Rheinmetall were asked to submit proposals, but after the end of trials of the prototypes, during which Rheinmetall's vehicle proved superior to others, Krupp would only be awarded a contract for a turret design while Rheinmetall was to design both a chassis and turret. Rheinmetall's turret design had a rounded shape and was armed with a 3.7 cm gun above the 7.5 cm gun, while Krupp's turret was more rectangular and had the 3.7 cm gun mounted beside the 7.5 cm gun. Both turrets were also armed with a co-axial MG-34 machine gun, along with the two sub-turrets at the front and rear of the tank.