Landkreuzer P. 1000 Ratte

[carman1877]

i was looking at the Landkreuzer P. 1000 Ratte and wanted to know what u think about it. its a german protype that was cancelled. also wants to know if u know any good sites or pics.

thanks:)

[tatra]

It would seem the hp/t ratio was taken care of by fitting the diesel set from a submarine. However, that leaves unattended the issue of groundpressure. Heavies like Tiger II and Sturmtiger and Maus already has problems with limitations on mobility due to ground pressure (soil and road types, bridges and ferries etc). Leave alone strategic mobility: how are you going to move a monster like the Landkreuzer but for on its own power (it will fit neither any rail system nor any wheeled tank-transporter. Then, finally, there is the issue of fuel consumption: would the Reich have been able to fuel these monsters (which I assume are not very fuel efficient)?

[carman1877]

yes, those are some major set backs but the scare factor and naval guns would work in the german favor.

Does anyone know where to get pics

[Feanor]

There never were any built to my knowledge. It didn't get to the prototype stage. It was another fantasy weapon that had no practical use. It's armor was too thin for it's size, and it was too easy to disable when it didn't have massive infantry support. Consider crappy manouverability and an enormous logistical foot print and you have a recipe for a useless hunk of junk.

[kato]

Personally, i think the ideas around back then for somewhat mobile super-heavy coastal artillery were a bit more... feasible.

Much like railroad artillery, such would only be supposed to move into a firing position, then stay there for weeks and months on end - but could still be moved if the strategic situation warrants it.

The Navy issued a study for such systems to Krupp - resulting in 14 different platforms consisting of the various in-service coastal artillery guns (... starting at a reasonable 150mm) in a traversible mount on a tracked platform.

[carman1877]

they did finish the turret but when the project was cancelled they used it as a beach gun in norway

[kato]

Never proven. The turret was identical to those of Gneisenau.