Schwimmpanzer 38(t)

"plávajúci" tank
At the time of planning the invasion of Great Britain, in parallel with the project Schwimmpanzer II, the possibility of floating Pz.Kpfw.38 (t).
Order No. SS 006-6795/41 for development and production was placed by the testing department of the WaPruf 6/III arms office on BMM on 21 February 1941. This was to create a float set called the AP-1. It created a float system that surrounded the entire machine. The float system consisted of several floats of different sizes and shapes, in the rear side floats there were propellers on both sides, the rotation of which was ensured by a transmission connected to the propulsion system of the tank. The tank surrounded by floats resembled a classic boat. The machine was sealed against the ingress of water, the air supply to the engine was led through the chimney, which was located behind the tower. The floats could be removed remotely while driving using electrically operated locks. The price, including internal tests, was 43,063. RM. The prototype performed navigation tests on the Vltava River in 6/1941. The maximum sailing speed was only 8 km/h. Therefore, the BMM company proposed modifications to the floats, which were approved and transferred at a price of 9,945 RM.
On November 17, 1941, the prototype was sent to the German test center in Kummersdorf. On March 2, 1942, a meeting with these floats took place in Prague. It was attended by Ing. Blattmann from WaPruf 6, Ing. Schwab from Kassebohler from Ulm and engineers Surina and Vinša from BMM. The original BMM solution was rejected and Kassebohler was probably commissioned to work on the floats. There was a demand for propulsion with only one propeller. There are photos Pz.Kpfw.38 Ausf.F at the BMM yard and photos from the sailing tests on Lake Constance (the tank had altered floats). In both photo documentation series, the machines have a pair of propellers. The machine with one propeller is not yet photographically documented.
The prototype test room was also held in 1942 on Lake Saaler Bodden near Ribnitz. At the time of the project, an order of 100 AP-1 float sets was expected, but due to the development of the war situation, when the possibility of invasion of Great Britain disappeared, the order was not realized.
According to the photos, look at the different constructions of floats (Schwimmpanzer with Schwimmkorper (Type I) and Schwimmpanzer with Schwimmkorper (Type II)). Test tank was version Pz.Kpfw.38 (t) Ausf.E , later Pz.Kpfw.38 Ausf.F.

Vladimir Francev, Charles K. Kliment - Praga Lt vz.38, Pz.Kpfw.38 (t), publishing house MBI, 2nd edition, year of publication 2002, ISBN 80-86524-01-9
Vladimir Francev - LT vz.38 Tank, which was successful - family portrait, publishing house Svět křídel, year of publication 2019, ISBN: 978-80-7573-057-2
A. Kalinin - Panzerkampfwagen 38 (t) Design and Production, Tactical Press, year of publication 2013
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Schwimmpanzer 38(t) - Testy na Bodamskom jazere

Testy na Bodamskom jazere
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