Rheinmetall NbFz.V No.1: The Other 'White Elephant'

[Zombificus 793]

The Neubaufahrzeug was a prototype heavy tank developed in the late 1930s, with both Krupp and Rheinmetall making prototypes, each with the same hull but a different turret. The first two produced were Rheinmetall's design, mounting the secondary 37mm above the 75mm howitzer, whereas the final three vehicles used Krupp's turret and a side-by-side gun arrangement. Although the NbFz suggestion marked as "Implemented" is for the Neubaufahrzeug V, the version we have in the game is actually Krupp's NbFz VI, which was also the variant that saw combat in Norway. Today, I'm suggesting the only Rheinmetall NbFz V to have been fully completed, Neubaufahrzeug No.1, for addition to the game.

 

 

History:

 

In 1933, Germany began a heavy tank program under the codename "Großtraktor" ("Heavy Tractor") to disguise its true nature as a tank, something Germany was technically forbidden to construct. Several prototypes were constructed in the following years, which were inspired by the multiturret heavies in vogue, and particularly by the British A1E1 "Independent". Details of that tank had been supplied to the Germans by Norman Baillie-Stewart, a Nazi sympathiser and British officer, during his brief carrier as a spy for Nazi Germany prior to his arrest in 1933, after which he was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Baillie-Stewart was known as the "Officer in the Tower" during his imprisonment there, and later became one of the broadcasters on "Germany Calling", William "Lord Haw-Haw" Joyce's Nazi propaganda broadcast, which plagued British airwaves during WWII.

 

A Großtraktor prototype; the spy Norman Baillie-Stewart; and the A1E1 "Independent".

 

Proceeding on the basis of the detailed plans and photos Baillie-Stewart had delivered to them, the German engineers constructed a succession of Großtraktor prototypes before settling on a standard hull, which Rheinmetall and Krupp produced competing turret designs for. The two variants of the tank, in recognition of the step forwards from the original Großtraktors they represented, were given new names: Neubaufahrzeug ("New-Build Vehicle") V and VI, for Rheinmetall and Krupp's designs respectively. While the first two prototype hulls were set aside for Rheinmetall's design and the following three for Krupp's, in the end just one Neubaufahrzeug was fitted with the Rheinmetall turret and its over-under gun arrangement, with the second hull receiving the fourth Krupp turret instead.

 

Left: Neubaufahrzeug No.1 under construction; Right: A NbFz.VI in Norway.

 

This vehicle, Neubaufahrzeug No.1, was also equipped with a FuG radio with a distinctive horseshoe antenna, but besides its unique gun arrangement and this improved radio -- suitable for a command tank -- there was little difference between it and Krupp's design. It's unclear why exactly Krupp's design was chosen over Rheinmetall's (perhaps the side-by-side arrangement was more convenient for the loader?), but even after the program was cancelled, Krupp's design was clearly the preferred model. Although NbFz. No.1 & No.2 conducted army trials in 1935 and 1936, they were not sent to the front, whereas the three purpose-built NbFz.VIs were sent to Norway as a show of force. Wikipedia implies that the reason for this is that the two Rheinmetall tanks, including the one fitted with the Krupp turret, were both mild steel, but Wikipedia is hardly reliable and I've found no mention of this in any other sources. Possibly, this is the writer getting confused and assuming that, like Großtraktor, the early NbFz.s were mild steel, but I can't say for sure. 

 

Left: An artist's "what-if?" NbFz.V in combat livery; Right: NbFz.VIs in Norway.

 

Allegedly, the two Rheinmetall NbFz.Vs did, in fact, see some service in the war. According to TanksEncyclopedia.com, reports point to the two NbFz.V prototypes serving in the Balkans from March to April 1941, and one of them was photographed on the 28th of June the same year at Dubno, Ukraine during Operation Barbarossa, in standard Dunkelgrau and with three white 'X' markings to designate its unit. No other sources seem to back this claim up, though there are some vague mentions of possible NbFz presence in Dubno as part of Barbarossa, so I must proceed under the assumption that the NbFz.V never fought. With all four surviving Neubaufahrzeugs ordered scrapped after the Norway Invasion (although at least one survived until 1944, where it was still being used as an AT gunnery training tank for infantry with Panzerfaust rocket launchers) the series made almost no impact on the war effort. I have to admit that the only reason I have for wanting NbFz V No.1 in the game is curiosity about how it would perform, especially when compared to its sibling's different gun arrangement. A footnote in the history of a footnote, Neubaufahrzeug No.1 is a unique vehicle and an interesting 'what-if?', even if it ultimately was no use to Germany.

 

Specifications:

 

 

Length: 6.6m

Width: 2.19m

Height: 2.98m

Weight: 23.41 tons

Crew: 6 (Driver, Commander, Loader, Gunner, Gunner, Gunner)

Armour: 13-20mm

Primary Armament (Upper): 37mm KwK 36 L/45 cannon

Primary Armament (Lower): 75mm KwK 37 L/24 howitzer

Secondary Armament: 2x 7.92mm MG17 machine guns (1 per Pz.I turret)

Max Speed: 16 mph (25 kph)

 

Its Place In War Thunder:

 

As an even more limited-production variant of a tank we already have as a Premium, it seems unlikely that NbFz.V No.1 would find a way into the main tech tree. It could, perhaps, replace the existing NbFz as a Premium so that vehicle, which did see combat, could be reintroduced as a researchable vehicle in the tree. Alternatively, it could be a linked Premium, coming after the NbFz we already have in the same way as the Boomerang I & II, Calliope & M26 T99, and the F-89s. Cheap as the NbFz already is, the trend of the second vehicle being cheaper than the first would likely make NbFz.V No.1 a very affordable Premium that people who've bought the first NbFz would be quite likely to pick up. Together with the existing NbFz, they could make for something of a quirky German multi-turret lineup, each tank's differing gun arrangement offering something new. It occurs to me that, thanks to the over-under design, adjusting your aim between guns should be easier on NbFz.V because you only have to adjust vertically, rather than in two axes like NbFz.VI. For players who generally like the Neubaufahrzeug but would prefer not to have to adjust horizontally between calibres, the NbFz.V No.1 could be just what they're looking for in a Tier I heavy. Another possibility to make NbFz.V No.1 more unique could be the addition of scouting to the tank as part of Milocat's suggestion that all command tanks be given the mechanic; NbFz.V No.1 seems to have been a prototype of a command model of NbFz., given its huge horseshoe antenna, which would put it in the right category. It is, however, inevitably going to be a Tier I tank, so adding scouting would break from the tradition that no Tier I should have scouting -- as an Event vehicle, and as such limited availability, it could be placed in Tier II despite its low BR, with scouting and marginal ease in aiming the twin guns being its selling point. Most likely, it would be another Premium to accompany its sibling NbFz, but if Gaijin wanted to experiment more with Tier I event rewards, this tank could be an opportunity to do so.

 

I hope you like this tank, and I look forward to hearing from you in the comments!

 

More Pictures:

 

Spoiler

 

Neubaufahrzeug V No.1 under construction.

 

NbFz.V No.1 from the side, now with its horseshoe radio installed.

 

NbFz.V No.1 from the front.

 

A photo of a pristine NbFz.V No.1, possibly just after completion.

 

NbFz.V No.1 being transported on a train.

 

While labelled as a NbFz.VI under repair, the guns look to be in NbFz.V's over-under arrangement, not side-by-side. 

 

An illustration of a NbFz.V in a 'what-if?' combat camouflage scheme.

 

 

The paint guide for Trumpeter's NbFz.V model kit, maybe seeking to reproduce the illustration's scheme.

 

A Großtraktor under trials.

 

A Großtraktor installed as a monument.

 

Another of the prototypes, which all saw the same fate.

 

 

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neubaufahrzeug

http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/nazi_germany/neubaufahrzeug.php

https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=572

https://ww2db.com/vehicle_spec.php?q=329

https://www.tanks.net/interwar-tanks/neubaufahrzeuge-v-and-vi.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Baillie-Stewart

 

[leroyonly 4,311]

Open for discussion. 

[seadogpirate@psn 888]

since one version is already premium this one should be researchable   +1

[Ghostmaxi 873]

i wish the existing Nbfz ( in game) had more armor, like 30 to be at least imune to cal 50

[Stuhlfleisch 3,762]

This could be a nice folder premium, that is connected to the NbFz VI that is already ingame! +1

[Matt_82 1,096]

I really like the old multi-turret tanks.  But the German one seems so crappy that I can't bring myself to spend a fiver on it even on sale.  The armour, mobility and turret traverse put me off too much.  It doesn't even have the huge crew to soak up the shells.

 

That said, I'll always vote +1 on older tanks 

[Milocat 4,857]

This would be a really nice addition to the game, it gets a +1 from me.  

 

Also, this is the suggestion of mine he's referring to in the poll, for those that don't know:  

 

[Ghostmaxi 873]

11 hours ago, Matt_82 said:

I really like the old multi-turret tanks.  But the German one seems so crappy that I can't bring myself to spend a fiver on it even on sale.  The armour, mobility and turret traverse put me off too much.  It doesn't even have the huge crew to soak up the shells.

 

That said, I'll always vote +1 on older tanks 

Well the side has like 2 layes and i think the suspention of angled 13mm , if you angle it it will be 100 mm spaced armor imune to everything exept some he

[Solarmod 1,204]

Yes, I would like this in game +5. I've waited for a while, wasn't ready to make a suggestion. Thanks man. 

[skiesdalimited@psn 25]

NbFz Ausf. A