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German

Goliath – B I: Cable-Controlled Demolition Vehicle

Goliath: German Cable-Controlled Demolition Vehicle
This miniature tank, weighing less than 700 pounds, is controlled by a 2000-foot electric cable from a hand control box carried in the rear. It is used to send a demolition charge to a point at which detonation destroys the tank as well as the target. The hull is fabricated from a mild 16 gauge steel with front upper and lower sloping plates 9 mm thick. These are set at 48 degrees and 50 degrees to the vertical. The hull contains three compartments. The rear compartment houses the cable and drum; the central compartment houses the power unit and control mechanism; and the front compartment contains the high explosive charge.

The power plant consists of a 2-cylinder, 2-cycle air-cooled engine. Ignition is by coil and 6 volt battery. The power is transferred through chain drives to each track by means of electromagnetic clutches. The total reduction from the clutches to the sprocket is 9.33:1. Steering is accomplished by breaking the circuit to the side to which the turn is to be made. This releases the magnetic clutch, cutting the power from the engine for that side of the vehicle. The suspension consists of five small bogie wheels on the bottom with two return rollers on top, and an idler wheel at the rear. Each bogie is independently sprung by coil springs. The chain driven sprocket is at the front of the vehicle. The track is 6 5/16 inches wide, with a simple grouser placed on every other track pin.

This vehicle carries an estimated 100-125 pounds of explosive, and has sufficient power to operate on practically all types of terrain. The control cable consists of three strands, in pairs, two for steering, and the third for setting off the detonator. In operation, the engines are started by a hand crank, the clutches engaged, and the tank then handled from the control box through the cable. Another version of this tank is powered by two electric motors.

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight      650 lbs.
Length 5 ft., 3 ins.
Width 2 ft., 10 ins.
Height 2 ft.
Ground clearance 5 1/4 ins.
Tread centers 2 ft., 3 ins.
Ground contact 2 ft., 6 1/2 ins.
Width of track 6 5/16 ins.
Pitch of track 2 13/16 ins.
Track links 47
Theoretical radius of action 770 yds.
Speed 4 to 6 m.p.h.
Armor
     Front plate (upper and lower nose) 9 mm
     Hull 16 gauge steel
Armament (100-125 est.) pound explosive charge
Engine Inline 2 cylinder, 2 cycle
Transmission Chain drive, through electric magnetic clutch.
Steering Controlled by two electric clutches

German: p. 40.1 (April 1, 1945)

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German

Kommando-Gerät 40: Antiaircraft Director

kommando-gerat-40
The Kommando-Gerät 40 is a director used principally for major caliber weapons such as the 8.8 cm and 10.5 cm antiaircraft guns. However, by installing the proper ballistic cams, it may be used with any type of gun.

The director is operated by five men. Two are required to track in azimuth and elevation; a third sets in slant range by means of a 4-meter base stereo range finder mounted on the director; the fourth man sets in horizontal angle of approach; and the fifth man operates various switches. Data are transmitted to the guns for reception by a signal-light manual follow-up system. A trailer equipped with devices for lifting the director is used for transport.

The Kommando-Gerät 40 computes continuously Case III data (for invisible targets) by a target speed and angle of approach method, and can handle diving and curving target courses. The time from initial pickup to first round is estimated to be 20 or 30 seconds. When shifting to a new target in the vicinity of the target previously tracked and flying an approximately parallel course, as little as 10 seconds may be required.

A change in course which requires a change in operating procedure upsets firing data for only a few seconds. In principle, the director will predict correctly for a target flying at constant speed with a constant rate of change of altitude and constant curvature. The stability is not affected by gradual changes in course.

After an abrupt change in speed, altitude rate, or course azimuth, about 10 to 15 seconds are required to evaluate the new course.

SPECIFICATIONS

Azimuth       No limit
Elevation -1.5° to 90.5°
Slant range 1,200 to 18,000 m
Present horizontal range 570 to 14,500 m
Future horizontal range 570 to 14,500 m
Future altitude -500 to 12,000 m
Present altitude 0 to 12,000 m
Ground speed of target 0 to 300 m/s
Vertical speed of target 0 to 200 m/s
Horizontal travel during time of flight 0 to 6,000 m
Lateral deflection +/- 1,065 mils
Course azimuth correction +/- 1,600 mils
Altitude prediction +/- 3,000 m
Maximum tracking rates
     Azimuth +/- 130 mils/sec.
     Slewing +/- 700 mils/sec.
     Elevation +/- 105 mils/sec.
     Time of flight 0 to 30 sec.
     Horizontal parallax 500 m
     Vertical parallax +/- 210 m
     Fuze dead time 0 to 10 sec.
     Wind velocity 0 to 28 m/s
     Muzzle velocity 24 numbers (Gebrauchsstufe)
     dØ +/- 60/16°
     dA +/- 70 mils
     dF due to dead time +/- 5 secs.
     dF due to MV and wind +/- 5 secs.

German: p. 176

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German

15 cm Panzerwerfer 42 (Sd. Kfz. N. W. 41): Self-Propelled Rocket Projector

15-cm-panzerwerfer-42

The chassis of this self-propelled rocket projector follows the half-track design but differs materially from the standard German half-track series of prime movers.

A standard commercial chassis manufactured by Opel (Chevrolet) has been modified to carry a spacious armored body of welded plates. The hull thus formed provides a firm and stable firing platform, and permits of easy mass production. The armor is intended only for protection against small arms fire of .30 caliber. The rear wheels and springs of the original truck chassis have been displaced by a track assembly, prefabricated and then bolted to the original frame. The original rear end differential has been retained but the drive shaft has been shortened and the asembly moved forward to mount the drive sprockets. The hydraulic brake system is retained only for the front wheels. A separate cable for each sprocket brake is connected to two hand levers mounted to the right of the driver’s seat. Normal steering is assisted by the sprocket brake when necessary.

The rocket projector consists of ten tubes mounted in two layers of five each. Provision is made for a simple optical sight, and for hand wheels for a maximum of 80° elevation and a maximum traverse of 290°. The projectiles are the same as those fired from the 15 cm Nebelwerfer 41 and can be electrically fired, singly or ripple, by means of a squib placed in each round. They are loaded with high explosive, smoke, and chemical warfare ammunition.

Auxiliary weapons include one 7.92 mm machine gun, M. G. 34, and three 9 mm submachine guns. Ammunition stowage is provided for ten extra rockets, 2,000 rounds for the M. G. 34, and 2,000 rounds for the submachine guns.

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight (net)       13,558 lb.
Trailer load capacity 2,425 lb.
Length (overall) 19 ft. 5 ins.
Width (overall) 7 ft. 2 ins.
Wheel base (approx.) 130 ins.
Height (overall) 8 ft. 6 ins.
Armor 5/32 ins. to 5/16 ins.
Ground clearance (minimum) 10 ins.
Tread centers 5 ft. 2 ins./5 ft. 11½ ins.
Ground contact (tracks) 78 ins.
Track width 10¼ ins.
Track links 82
Fuel tank 22.4 gals.
Fuel consumption Unknown
Fording depth 32 ins.
Speed 25 m.p.h.
Engine Open (Chevrolet) 6 cyl. O.H.V.
Displacement 220 cu. ins.
Horsepower 67 U.S.A.
Ignition Bosch 12 Volt (Coil)
Battery 12 Volt with special heater
Transmission 5 speeds forward, 1 reverse
Steering Normal assisted by differential brake
Crew 3

German: p. 48.1