Polish Tank Development, prior to WW2.

[_Katyusha_ 1,829]

The development of armor, from post world war one, leading through to world war two, is at its core a very intriguing, very interesting story.  Every nation took to the task in its own unique way, producing what might best be described as a mix of vehicles that would become legendary, as well as a couple that would simply be forgotten.  Among the nations, though, perhaps the most curious; yet most overlooked, is the development process Poland went through.  Granted, the majority of their development ceased to exist by 1939, but this does not mean by any means that they weren't progressively working on ideas.  Ideas which, in some cases, would be quite revolutionary.  Ideas which, had they more time, might have changed the way armored combat itself developed.

 

To best understand the development process the Polish went through, we need to start at the earliest date.  Like most small nations in Europe, just after the first world war, Poland's armored development was in its infancy.  In fact, by 1920, the nation's army consisted primarily of units purchased from France.  The venerable Renault FT-17, Citreon AMC armored car, and Peugeot armored cars.  Though even by 1920 standards the FT-17 was poorly equipped, this didn't stop Poland from outfitting  a regiment with two basic designs of the FT-17. The 1st Tank Regiment was equipped with 120 tanks: 75 armed with a 37mm gun Puteaux SA-18 L/21, and 45 armed with a 8mm Hotchkiss Mle.14 MG.  Of the Peugeot armored cars, Poland purchased eighteen of the vehicles, spreading them out through two squadrons, named the 1st, and 2nd squadron.  Last but not least was the Citreon AMC armored car. 

 

When purchased, the Citreon was not an armored car, but instead was a home built unit based around the French Citreon half track design.  Two variants were produced, the wz. 28, armed with 37 mm SA-18 Puteaux L/21 low-velocity cannons with 96 rounds, and the wz. 34, armed with a short-barrel 37mm wz.18 Puteaux L/21 gun with 96-100 rounds, or one 7.92mm Hotchkiss wz.25 MG with 2000 rounds.  Unlike the wz 28, the wz 34 featured no rear tracks, and instead utilized a four wheel chassis.  The two armored cars would be fully introduced into the army by the end of 1927, with several of them still seeing use in the start of World War Two, in 1939.  Though the FT-17 was greatly outclassed by more modern weaponry, it too did see some limited use in 1939, with one of the more intersting being the defense of the citadel at Brzesc.  Here, the Renaults engaged the German 2nd batallion of the 8th tank regiment, and suffered great losses. However, as several Renault FT tanks were knocked out within the northern gate, this prevented the Germans from progressing further.  The defenders attempted to break out with their remaining vehicles, but this failed, and the vehicles were abandoned.

 

Starting in 1927, with licensed production of the FT-17, Poland began looking to its own designers for vehicles.  Taking a great deal learned from the purchased armored cars, the Polish research institute (Wojskowy Instytut Badań Inżynierii) developed their own design.  This vehicle, commonly called the Ursus, was the wz 29.  It incorporated many of the designs of the previous wz 28, and wz 34 designs, as well as some details from the FT-17, with distinct Polish modifications.  Of all the vehicles, the Ursus (based around a modified chassis of the  Ursus A 2 ton truck) was the heaviest armored car developed. The first prototype of armoured car, built of mild iron, was completed and tested just in June 1929. During trials, changes were applied mostly to a turret. The car was accepted in November 1929, with an Army designation: samochód pancerny wzór 29 (in short: wz. 29) - armoured car 1929 Pattern.  Only ten cars of the wz. 29 design were ordered, with reports noting that at least one, perhaps two of the vehicles were unarmed and used as propaganda or police vehicles. The main armament of the wz. 29 was the French 37mm wz.18 (SA-18) Puteaux L/21 low-velocity gun in the turret. In spite of its WWI-origin, it was a simple, reliable and quite accurate weapon, but its primary purpose was to fight infantry and MG emplacements. 96 rounds were stowed, in 24-round boxes.  The gun was mouned in a roughly angled turret, utilizing a Polish designed ball mount.  At the left rear of the turret, a French 7.92mm wz. 25 Hotchkiss machine guns in universal ball mount was mounted. (The ball mount being similar in design to the main gun.) Lastly, a second machine gun was mounted in the rear plate (left side) of the vehicle, manned by another gunner.  Early designs of the wz 29 called for a third machine gun to be mounted on the upper right side of the turret, but these were deemed to be ineffective and were removed. 

 

As development progressed, moving steadily forward on the armored car front, Poland once more looked to other nations for tracked vehicles.  By 1925, the Renault tanks, though numerous, were grossly obsolete, and while the Polish army still had upwards of several thousand of the vehicles at this point; they realized that the vehicles likely would not survive long in armored combat.  Perhaps it was the sabre rattling of Germany, or the developments progressing forward in Russia, or, perhaps it was some forward thinking member of the design institute that understood the fact that the Polish needed something more.  History isn't overly clear on why they undertook the development of armored tracked vehicles, but it could have been any one of, or a mix of, the above ideas.

 

Yet, as with their armored cars, the Polish went in a rather curious direction with their early tracked vehicles.  Rather than looking to turreted vehicles (which they would indeed eventually do) the Polish instead turned first to the tankette idea.  John Carden and Vivian Loyd designed several light one-man, then two-men tracked fighting vehicles between 1925, and 1928.  Turning to these British designers, the Polish saw something that most other nations did not.  The Carden-Loyd Mk.VI met with an interest in Poland from the beginning. As soon as in 1929 one tankette was brought and evaluated in Poland. The first show at Rembertow grounds took place on 20 June 1929. The first trials were successful and it was decided to buy 10 tankettes Mk.VI and 5 tracked trailers.  After evaluation, it was determined that the low slung vehicles had a better mobility, and better dimensions than the recently acquired wz. 28 halftrack.  As a result, the Polish turned away from the armored car designs, and instead purchased a license to build the Carden-Loyd vehicles themselves. 

 

The Mk VI was not without its faults, though. Primarily, its tracks weren't sprung well, making riding exhausting; especially when the vehicle went off road.  As a result of this, following a design by Lt. Stanisław Marczewski, two tankettes were modified with a new suspension which included semi-elliptical leaf springs between the hull and suspension bogies.  Marczewski also added return rollers to the vehicles, and further improved the suspension.  In fact, the design was such an improvement, that Carden-Loyd would go on to incorporate it into future tankette designs.  The Mk VI was not overly successful as a tankette for the Polish, though.  This was not due to faults in the design, but instead due to the Polish designers  realizing that they could use the design as a jumping off point for their own internal work.  From the Mk VI design, came the first real Polish tankette prototype, the TK-1.  The exact meaning of the TK in the name has been lost to time, though it's believed it referred to Trzeciak and Karkoz, tank designers.

 

The TK-1 prototype, was then revised into the TK-2 prototype. The only difference between the two being a change of engine from a Ford model A engine, to a Ford model T engine.  After evaluation, the TK-2 design gave way to the TK-3, which entered serial production.

 

The TK-3, one of the most prolific tankettes used in Poland, was also one of the most modified.  As built, the TK-3 was powered by a Ford model A engine, though an unknown number were also rebuilt and powered by a Polski FIAT-122BC engine, licence-built in Poland.  Of the three hundred TK-3 tanks built, the most common variant was a small artillery tractor, armed with a wz.30 (Browning) machine gun.  Not satisfied to stop there, the design institute continued working on the TK-3 design, and in 1933 began development of the TKS. The new model was generally based upon TK-3 design, but only few parts remained interchangeable.   The biggest change in the TKS, was changing both the hull and armor shape by angling it, providing a bit thicker armor plate and protection, while also giving the driver a better view.  The Ford engine was replaced with the Polski FIAT-122BC engine, and the suspension was strengthened with wider tracks being added.  Like the TK-3, the majority of TKS tanks were armed with the wz.30 machine gun, though a small number of them were modified in August 1939.  Of these modifications, eighty TKS, and seventy TK-3 tankettes were to be rearmed with Polish built 20 mm cannons of the FK model A design.  By the outbreak of war, only twenty, to twenty four of the tankettes had been rebuilt.  Other than the 20mm cannon armament, six other vehicles stand out.  These are the TKD, and TKS-D vehicles.

 

The TKD was a TK-3 tankette which carried a polish wz.25 47mm Pocisk infantry gun (four built), to be used in support and anti-tank use.  The TKS-D was a purpose designed tank destroyer, which carried a 37mm wz.36 Bofors anti tank gun. (two built.) The vehicles never entered serial production, though they did see some limited combat during the outbreak of war; both proving deadly to German armor of the day.  Furthermore, due to their relatively small size, the TKD and TKS-D vehicles were able to hide in places the Germans would not think to look, and wreak havoc. 

 

While the development of the TK-1 (Based on the Carden-Loyd Mk VI) was being undertaken, a parallel development in regards to light tanks was undertaken.  The Polish designers attempted to create their own vehicle, based off the ideas put forth by the Renault vehicle, and developed the WB-10.  The WB-10 was, sadly, a design failure, prompting the Polish to look outside their borders for the answer.  The Ministry of Defense had previously been in contact with British designers, so it was no surprise that they would once more turn there for the answer.  Contacting Vickers-Armstrong in 1926, the Polish requested to purchase a number of vehicles. The first of these were the Vickers Medium tanks mark C and mark D.  When the Polish initially rejected this offer (they would purchase one or two later on), they were insted offered the Mark E, Vickers 6 Ton tank.  The tank was designed in two basic variants: Mark E Type A (Alternative A) with twin turrets, armed with machine guns; and the single-turret Mark E Type B (Alternative B), which was the world's first tank with a co-axial gun and machine gun in a turret.

 

Originally, the Polish delegation intended to purchase thirty of the Mk E tanks, only to realize that the price was too high.  Turning to France, they purchased a single Renault NC vehicle, and after testing determined that it did not meet their needs.  Poland returned to Vickers, and while the cost of the mk E was substantially more than the Renault NC, they ultimately purchased 38 Mk E Type A vehicles. After testing, the Polish began modifying the Mk E tanks, adding larger air intackes to improve engine cooling, as well as modifying twenty two of the vehicles into a single turret type B vehicle.  Interestingly enough, the Polish did not begin serial production of the Mk. E, but instead polish designers took the design of the vehicle itself, incorporated a number of Polish improvements, and created the 7TP. The 7TP was the most succesful of Vickers E developed  in the world.  The 7TP tank was armed with a 37mm wz.37 Bofors L/45 gun, and a 7.92mm wz.30 TMG (or two 7.92mm wz.30 TMG's in twin turret variant). The 7TP would be the last real tank which the Polish had, and made up the bulk of their force (other than tankettes) at the onset of war.

 

Two other Polish tank designs, both stemming from a desire to improve the mobility of the standard 7TP design arose.  While only one of those designs was initially based off the 7TP design, the fact remains that these two prototype vehicles stand out.  The first of these, the 4TP was designed as primarly a scout vehicle, though a tank destroyer variant was also designed.  It was expected, that once the 4TP reached production, it would replace the tankettes of the TK/TKS design. However, the onset of war prevented this from happening.  Like the 7TP, the design was loosely based off the Vickers Mk E, though several design elements stand out.  For one,  the 4TP was tested with a prototype 20mm automatic gun wz.38 FK-A.  It was evaluated, and found quite suitible for the task at hand, though the suspension was found to need considerable work.  Though reliable, it was found the elasticity of the track was too soft, causing it to rock side to side and making it impossible for the vehicle to fire on the move.  Also, the materials used in the prototype construction were of a low quality, and kept causing the return rollers to break off.  The last trials of the PZInż.140 prototype took place in May 1939. It ran 4300 km (2672 miles) in total, without any serious failure. Production was meant to start in 1940, and had it entered production, based entirely on the design elements found in the vehicle, it would have been comparable to, if not better than other light reconnaissance tanks of the era.

 

The other vehicle is the 10TP.  At a glance, the 10TP resembles a soviet BT tank, though there is no relation beyond the similarity in design.  The 10TP, unlike the 7TP, was designed following steps set forth by J.W. Christie.  Like the BT tank, the 10TP was a wheel-xxxx-track vehicle, combining the best off road ability of a tank, while the speed of an armored car on pavement. New works upon the wheel-xxxx-track tank started in the newly created Armoured Weapons' Technical Research Bureau (BBT Br.Panc.) from 10 March 1935. It was given a designation 10TP, and classified as a "pursuit tank" (czołg pościgowy, roughly equivalent of a cruiser tank).  The vehicle was supposed to be a 10-Ton tank, though its actual prototype weight exceeded this by two tons.  To make standardization easier, the turret was intended to be the same turret used in the 7TP vehicle, armed with a 37 mm Bofors anti-tank gun, with a coaxial 7.92 mm MG.  The turret design was changed somewhat, with the upper plate being sloped upward toward the middle of the turret, as opposed to being flat like the 7TP's turret. The tank also had thicker armors than the Christie's design. The Polish designers also applied new, wider tracks, with smaller links, which improved off-road capabilities, were quieter, more durable and less prone to fall apart. They also developed new drive sprockets and the way of link hooking, although it was complicated and not very reliable. The tank steering system was quite advanced, using hydraulic servomechanisms (which, however, caused some teething problems during tests).

 

In testing, it was found that on hardened (paved) road, the tank could reach speeds of 34.5 km/h, and on dirt roads 20.6 km/h. It could climb hills of 35 to 40 degrees with ease, and ford rivers with little to no problem.  During one phase of the testing, the vehicle suddenly slewed to the right side and wedged itself in a ditch. It drove itself backward out of the ditch, and upon inspection it was found that the driver had applied a bit too much brake, causing the vehicle to suddenly turn.  As the evaluations progressed in 1939, some faults did come to light.  Insufficient engine cooling, and the tendency of the gearbox and clutches to wear faster than expected.  The fuel tank was also found to be too small, creating several instances where the tank had to sit and wait for someone with fuel drums and a pump to come rescue it.  In the final tests, it was noted that while the vehicle did well riding without its tracks, this wa s actually impractical.  It would take on average thirty to forty-five minutes to replace the tracks, and without them the vehicle could not travel off road.  The design was shelved, with the information learned from it incorporated into the more advanced 14TP design.

 

Unlike the 10TP, the 14TP design was intended to be a fully tracked vehicle, utilizing the sound Christie's suspension. Thanks to getting rid of a complicated gear driving rear wheels, and systems steering the front wheels and raising the second pair, some weight and space could be saved.  This in turn made it possible to increase the armor thickness and fuel capacity.  (The soviets came to a similar conclusion with their BT vehicle development which evolved into the A-20, and T-34.) By the end of 1938, the majority of the 14TP design was complete, lacking only the engine.  It was first considered to purchase the engine from Nazi Germany, though even attempting to do so through the neutral Sweden proved difficult.  It is not known whether or not the deal had been finalized by the outbreak of war, though Maybach had agreed in 1937 to send a party of 8 to 10 engineers to help the Poles out.  The Poles declined this offer, as they both could not afford the cost for the engineers, and really didn't need them at the time.  Unlike the 10TP, the 14TP was never completed, and its disposition after the war began is unknown.  It is believed that the Germans captured the vehicle, installed an engine, and tested the vehicle before destroying it.  A German intelligence produced sketch, titled "Polish Tank T39", which shows a low profile machine with Christie-type road wheels seems to suggest this.  However it's thought that this also may have nothing to do with the 14TP.

 

In the end, the war began and any advances the Poles might have made with their tank designs, in particular the 10TP and 14TP design, as well as the TKS, and 4TP, stopped.  There is the question of what might have happened, had these designs finally entered production.  In the case of the 14TP, it would have proved a match for anything Germany fielded at the time, as well as Soviet vehicles. However, it was greatly limited in its scope, both in range and firepower.  So while they might have been able to withstand what was to come, ultimately they would not have been able to hold out long.  This does not change the fact, that in the grand scheme of things, when you consider all of the nations who undertook tank development in WW2, Poland's round about way of doing things, produced some very interesting designs.

 

Edit: Just correcting some typos.

Edited August 17, 2014 by _Katyusha_

[IsaakRiv94 5,260]

Did any polish tanks,tankettes saw combat against german early panzers?, i.e Panzer I,II and IV

[_Katyusha_ 1,829]

Did any polish tanks,tankettes saw combat against german early panzers?, i.e Panzer I,II and IV

7TP and TK/TKS did see combat.  The TKD and TKS-D prototypes were pressed into service as well, where they performed outstandingly.  After the war, TK/TKS tankettes were taken by the Germans and used to some degree in Czechoslovakia, and Hungary, while a few continued in service with the German army as artillery tractors and vehicles to pull Pak 38 anti tank guns around. (They served quite well in this service.)

Edited August 17, 2014 by _Katyusha_

[AtomicKaiser 4,905]

7TP and TK/TKS did see combat.  The TKD and TKS-D prototypes were pressed into service as well, where they performed outstandingly. 

Have a source on that?

[_Katyusha_ 1,829]

Have a source on that?

http://alliedtanksofworldwarii.devhub.com/blog/656005-7tp-polish-light-tank/

 

Quote "All 7TP tanks took part in combat in the Polish Defensive War of 1939."

 

Regarding TKS/TK combat:

 

The 575 TK/TKS tankettes formed the bulk of the Polish armoured forces before the outbreak of war. They suffered heavy losses during the Invasion of Poland, often being the only armoured fighting vehicles available. Due to their light armament of a single machine gun, they stood no chance in combat against German tanks, except the Panzer I, but their small size suited them for reconnaissance and infantry support. Only the handful of tankettes armed with 20 mm guns had a fighting chance against the enemy tanks; in one instance on 18 September 1939 a 20 mm gunned TKS commanded by sergeant Roman Orlik destroyed three German Panzerkampfwagen 35(t) tanks.

 

TKD/TKS-D combat:

 

Source: Eugeniusz Piotr Nowak, "Dywizjon Rozpoznawczy 10 Brygady Kawalerii 1938-1939", Cracov 1999

 

quote:

 

In 1937-38, both TKS-D were tested in the Training Centre in Modlin. In 1938 they were assigned, along with the TKD platoon, to the 10th motorized Cavalry Brigade, and were used in manouvres in August and September 1938. Then, they took part in the action of regaining the Czech Zaolzie province, with the Brigade. The further fate of TKS-D prototypes is not sure. Until recently it had been a mystery, but the newest publication says, that both TKS-D were still present in an anti-tank platoon of the reconnaissance unit of the 10th Cavalry Brigade, along with 4 car-towed 37mm Bofors guns. Provided this is true, both TKS-D took part in an intensive fighting of the Brigade from 1 September 1939 in Beskidy mountains against two German armoured divisions. One of the vehicles was supposedly destroyed on 5 September in Skrzydlna village, the second on 9 September at Albigowa town. Between them, it is reported they destroyed, or disabled ten to fifteen German tanks.

Edited August 17, 2014 by _Katyusha_

[Botan 7,952]

I suggest to read this site, seems reliable http://derela.republika.pl/tkd.htm

 

Also some photo of TKD destroyed in 1939 was found and post on this historical forum:

 

[Blackart 4,984]

Did any polish tanks,tankettes saw combat against german early panzers?, i.e Panzer I,II and IV

 

Osprey - Vanguard 030 - Krzysztof Barbarski - Polish Armour 1939-45:

 

 

Polish 7TP tank:

http://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/125332-7tp-light-tank/

 

Captured 7TP with 20 mm penetration hole, probably from Panzer II:

 

Edited August 18, 2014 by Blackart

[IsaakRiv94 5,260]

Interesting ,so there were some encounters,but I guess using this worked better for the Poles 

 

[spoiler][/spoiler]

[Blackart 4,984]

Nice article but you didn't mentioned about Polish plans to buy Christie tank in 1930.

[Renamed99495 3,247]

Did any polish tanks,tankettes saw combat against german early panzers?, i.e Panzer I,II and IV

When i looked up about tankettes some time ago i stumbled on article where it was said it took out 1 panzer 4, can't find it :(

 

But..

 

Polish TKS with 20mm gun were deadly to the German tanks when employed correctly and with brains even though Polish TKS were smaller and had thiner armour. A German tank officer captured during first days of September 1939 was praising speed and nimbleness of a Polish tankette, claiming that: "…it is very hard to hit such a small cockroach from a gun"." Polish Plutonowy podchorazy rez. Roman Edmund Orlik (71 armoured dyon of Wielkopolska Cavalry Brigade) was most likely one of the first allied tank aces of WW II and he commanded Polish TKS armed with a 20mm gun (his driver was Kapral – Corporal Bronislaw Zakrzewski). On 14th of September during the battle of Brochów he eliminated 3 tanks from Panzer-Regiment 36 from 4. Panzer-Division. On 18th of September during the combat of Pociecha he eliminated 3 tanks from Panzer-Regiment 11 from 1 Leichte-Division. He also destroyed several motorized vehicles during that combat and took 2 prisoners of war (tank crew). He also tried to rescue the crew of one of those eliminated by him German tanks – which started to burn but unfortunately, he didn't manage to rescue them and all of them died.

[MortiCore 397]

Just found this topic and I would like to say few words about this destroyed Panzer IV and Orlik's battle.

 

When i looked up about tankettes some time ago i stumbled on article where it was said it took out 1 panzer 4, can't find it :(

 

But..

 

Polish TKS with 20mm gun were deadly to the German tanks when employed correctly and with brains even though Polish TKS were smaller and had thiner armour. A German tank officer captured during first days of September 1939 was praising speed and nimbleness of a Polish tankette, claiming that: "…it is very hard to hit such a small cockroach from a gun"." Polish Plutonowy podchorazy rez. Roman Edmund Orlik (71 armoured dyon of Wielkopolska Cavalry Brigade) was most likely one of the first allied tank aces of WW II and he commanded Polish TKS armed with a 20mm gun (his driver was Kapral – Corporal Bronislaw Zakrzewski). On 14th of September during the battle of Brochów he eliminated 3 tanks from Panzer-Regiment 36 from 4. Panzer-Division. On 18th of September during the combat of Pociecha he eliminated 3 tanks from Panzer-Regiment 11 from 1 Leichte-Division. He also destroyed several motorized vehicles during that combat and took 2 prisoners of war (tank crew). He also tried to rescue the crew of one of those eliminated by him German tanks – which started to burn but unfortunately, he didn't manage to rescue them and all of them died.

 

Roman Edmund Orlik attacked a German tank recon group with his tankette TKS-20mm (and two standard TK-3s) on 18th September in Kampinos forest. The same day just few kilometers away Polish 37mm AT-gun succesfully ambushed a lone German tank. There was always a problem to specify about tank types were destroyed in these encounters. Maybe Orlik was fighting against 2 Panzer 35(t) and one Panzer IV and this single tank is not specified, or maybe the Panzer IV was destroyed by AT-gun? Drawing of battlefield made by Orlik can be somekind of answer:

I, II - TK-3 tankettes

IIIa,b, - Orlik's TKS 20mm activity

1,2,3 - German tanks, one of them started burning (our Panzer IV?)

"gęsty młodnik" - young, small forest

"starodrzew" - old, tall forest

If we look into  photos of Panzer IV destroyed on 18th September it seems to suit there:

 

It's possible that this is Orlik's prey. Commander of this tank was Victor IV Albrecht, prince of Ratibor. He died because of wounds and burns.

 

 

Unfortunatelly there is also some inaccuracies in Orliks memories, and other soldier, Roman Nawrocki said that he was a commander of TKS-20mm and Orlik had regular TK-3. Interesting is that after surrender of Warsaw garrison Germans captured 2(!) TKS-20mm that could be only from Wielkopolska Cavarly Brigade. Maybe one soldier is trying claim others achievements?

This photo of a TKS-20 tankette:

 

and vehicles captured in Warsaw - poor quality, second TKS-20mm is above motorbike:

 

Comparison of size TK-3 and Panzer IV:

 

Source: J. Magnuski Karaluchy przeciw Panzerom

http://derela.republika.pl/tks20.htm (English translation - click British flag)

http://www.dws.org.pl/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=131529&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

 

 

[xSLPDxMabzie55 100]

I suggest to read this site, seems reliable http://derela.republika.pl/tkd.htm

Also some photo of TKD destroyed in 1939 was found and post on this historical forum:

Yes that's a great website I suggest anyone interested in the topic go to that website and read the whole thing. I have been in correspondence with the guy that runs the website and have been bugging him to complete the 7TP page. Fingers crossed.

[RazNaRok 616]

  It is believed that the Germans captured the vehicle, installed an engine, and tested the vehicle before destroying it.  

 

And the source of these revelations?

According to discuss with polish Historian Piotr Zarzycki (pnz59) taken place on odkrywca.pl forums the 14TP wasn't never build, only 60% of parts were order of which till outbreak of war only received suspension leaf springs and tracks. Only wooden mock-up was done.

 

 

  A German intelligence produced sketch, titled "Polish Tank T39", which shows a low profile machine with Christie-type road wheels seems to suggest this.  However it's thought that this also may have nothing to do with the 14TP.

 

Picture titled: Polnischer Panzerkampfwagen T-39

 

Is a post-war reconstruction made by polish Historian Jan Magnuski.

 

Text show bizarre absence of expertise in developing sentences in German, the English word "Sketch" is used, instead German "Skizze".

Layout is completely untypical for Germans Document, like the use of Fracture font on for "Abchlussbericht", there is no File ID on document with should be normally on top Left and a Date is missing on top right.

Normally in report, the Illustration are not integrate in Text, but on separate page with short text.

 

A sketch of the tank presents the characteristics of the early prototypes of the Comet or Cromwell tanks.

 

 

The real drawings of the alleged 14TP tank published in the western by Horst Schaibert as the image of "Polnischer Panzerkampfwagen T-39", were a fake documents deliberately crafted by the 2nd Branch of Misinformation Cell of the General Staff (Komórka Dezinformacji II Oddziału Sztabu Głównego), purposeful foisted off upon the Germans during test run's of 10TP.

Edited August 22, 2015 by _RazNaRok_