Panzer VII Löwe
Appearance
![]() | This article's factual accuracy is disputed. (March 2021) |
Panzerkampfwagen VII Löwe (VK 70.01/72.01(K)) | |
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![]() Drawing of the VK 70.01 (K) proposal | |
Type | Super-heavy tank |
Place of origin | Nazi Germany |
Service history | |
Wars | World War II |
Production history | |
Designer | Krupp |
Designed | 1 November 1941–20 July 1942 |
Specifications | |
Mass |
|
Crew | 5 (driver, commander, gunner, loader, radio operator) |
Armor |
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Main armament |
|
Secondary armament | 1 MG-34 or MG-42 |
Engine |
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Suspension | Torsion bar |
Maximum speed | 27–35 km/h (17–22 mph) |
The Panzerkampfwagen VII Löwe (Lion) was a design for a super-heavy tank created by Krupp for the German government during World War II. The project, initially code-named VK 70.01 (K), never left the drawing board, and was dropped on 5–6 March 1942, in favor of Porsche's heavier Panzer VIII Maus.[1][2]
Variants
[edit]The Löwe was designed in two variants, unofficially designated Leichter Löwe (light lion) and Schwerer Löwe (heavy lion), both with a crew of five:[1]
- Leichter Löwe/VK 70.01 (K)
- It was to weigh 76 t (75 long tons; 84 short tons), with 100 mm (3.9 in) of frontal armor, a front-mounted turret, a 10.5 cm (4.1 in) L/70 high velocity gun, and a coaxial machine gun, with a top speed of 27 km/h (17 mph). It was later cancelled by Adolf Hitler.[1]
- Schwerer Löwe/VK 72.01(K)
- It was to weigh 90 t (89 long tons; 99 short tons), with 120 mm (4.7 in) frontal armor, a rear-mounted turret, a 10.5 cm L/70 high velocity gun, and a coaxial machine gun, but only managing a top speed of 23 km/h (14 mph). After redesign it had 150 mm (5.9 in) frontal armor, 8.8 cm (3.5 in) L/71 gun, and a top speed increased to 35 km/h (22 mph).[1][2]
See also
[edit]- Panther tank, medium tank
- Tiger I, a vehicle that it was designed to replace
- Tiger II, comparable vehicle, actual successor of Tiger I
- Maus, a further continuation of the super heavy program
- P. 1000 Ratte, a design for a German super-heavy tank
- P. 1500 Monster, proposed, likely fictional, German super-heavy self-propelled gun
Tanks of comparable role, performance and era
[edit]- Soviet IS-3
- American M103
- British Conqueror
- French AMX-50
- German Panzer VIII Maus
References
[edit]Sources
[edit]- "Panzerkampfwagen VII Löwe (Lion)". Achtung Panzer. 1996. Archived from the original on 14 August 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
- B., David (11 February 2015). "Panzerkampfwagen VII Löwe (VK 70.01) Heavy tank – Paper project (1942)". Retrieved 23 July 2017.
- Jentz, Tom; Doyle, Hilary (2001). Panzer Tracts No.20-1: Paper Panzers – Panzerkampfwagen, Sturmgeschuetz and Jagdpanzer. Boyds. ISBN 978-1-915969-04-0.
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: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)