Lümmel's World War 2 museum!

Panzerkampfwagen 38 (t) axis

Production: 1938-1942
Number Built: 1,414
Crew: 4
Weight: 9.5 t
Engine Ouput: 125 hp
Speed on Roads: 42 km/h
Armament: 37 mm KwK (t) L/47 gun
2x7.92 mm machine guns

The Czechoslovakian tank TNHP was employed by the Wehrmacht under the name 38(t).



The reliable, high-quality TNHP tanks were claimed by the Wehrmacht after occupying Czechoslovakia. The (t) in its name refers to the tanks origin. Its producion in Pilsen and Prague was still continued for a while.

But when the Soviet Union introduced the T-34 in 1941, the 38(t) increasingly lost importance.
Its 37 mm gun and rivetted armour had become outdated.


(Wilde Sau, translated: "wild boar")

The longer the war lasted, the more the 38(t) was almost exclusively employed in the front's hinterland. Its chassis, however, was continued to be used. It became the basis of the very successful tank destroyer "Hetzer".

Jagdpanzer 38(t) "Hetzer" axis

Production: 1944-1945
Number Built: 2,584
Crew: 4
Weight: 16 t
Engine Ouput: 160
Speed on Roads: 42 km/h
Armament: 75 mm PaK L/48 gun
7,92 mm machine gun

The Hetzer was based on the Czech TNHP tank, which the Wehrmacht employed under the name 38 (t) (see previous post). Instead of the usual rotating turret, the chassis was fitted with a solid armour structure. This allowed it ti incorporate a 7.5 cm gun since the new casemate-like structure provided significantly more space for the barrel's recoil. The vehicle could also be built a lot simpler and more cost-effectively than a tank featuring a rotating turret.



The disadvantage, as with all casemate tanks, was that firing required the complete vehicle to first take up a position to the centre of the arc. Only then the gunner could relay the gun to a limited extend.

The reuslting vehicle was very flat, extremely manoeuvreble and well armoured. The sloped armour plates ensured that many enemy rounds were deflected. This disadvantage of the compact design was an extreme lack of space for the crew inside.

The Hetzer was one exception from the Wehrmacht trend to build ever larger and heavier vehicles. Unlike all the other German tanks destroyers, the Hetzer was continued to be used after the war: In the army of Czechoslovakia and Switzerland.

Impressive!

This is great!

Panzerkampfwagen 4 Ausführung G "Panzer 4" axis

Production: 1937-1945
Number Built: 8,635 (all variants)
Crew: 5
Weight: 23,6 t
Engine Ouput: 300 hp
Speed on roads: 40 km/h
Armament: 75 mm KwK 40 L/43 gun
2x7.92 mm machine guns

The Panzer 4 was the "workhorse" of the German Armour Corps during World War 2.


(Compared to previous tanks, this was the first "heavy tank" by appearance.)

The memory of Wehrmacht tanks is often dominated by big and late models such as the Tiger and Panther. The most produced tank by far, however, was the Panzer 4: It made up almost 28% of all German battle tanks between 1939 and 1945.


(The different "Ausführungen" (translated: variants) of the Panzer 4)



The Panzer 4 was consistently upgraded. The Ausführung G that is shown, is different from previous versions, as it has the new 7.5 cm Kampfwagenkanone 40L/43. Previous models had been equipped with short barreled guns (Wehrmacht command tank in COH 2) that had been primarily intended to engage "soft" targets, like infantry. By 1942, however, it was decided to use the Panzer 4 to chiefly fight enemy tanks. This required a more powerful tank gun whose most prominent feature was a significantly longer barrel.







Furthermore, numerous other weapon systems were built around the hull of the Panzer 4. These included the Hummel (coming soon) and the Jagdpanzer 4 (coming soon, too).

The Panzer 4 was the only German tank that has been produced throughout the whole of WW2.




("Water")

Personenkraftwagen Volkswagen Typ 82 "VW Kübelwagen" axis

Production: 1940-1945
Number Built: approx. 50,400
Crew: 1-4
Weight: 0,71 t
Engine Output: 25 hp
Speed on Roads: 83 km/h

The Kübelwagen was the standard passenger car of the Wehrmacht!





The Kübelwagen's development was based on the civilian KdF-Wagen (KdF - Kraft durch Freude - German for: "Strength through Joy"); a car which never went into series production since all ressources were required for wartime production. The KdF-Wagen, however, was used after the Second World War as the basis from which the Volkswagen Beetle was developed.

The Kübelwagen's design was simple and robust. Despite lacking four-wheel drive, the vehicle proved extremely reliable in rough terrain. And together with its air-cooled engine it could be used under the most unfavourable conditions.





The name "Kübelwagen" (literally translated as: "bucket car") is derived from the very deep bucket-like seats that were used in many military vehicles. These seats were meant to provide some protection from falling out.

Thus, the terms "Kübelsitzwagen" (bucket seat car") or Kübelwagen had originally been used to decribe a whole group of vehcles. In time, however, the name became so associated with the Volkswagen car that it basically became the unofficial designation of that model. Until today, the Kübelwagen has remained a symbol of the Wehrmacht, and is used accordingly often in film productions.

7,5 cm Infanteriegeschütz 37 axis

The 7.5 cm Infanteriegeschütz was an improvised weapon from the final phase of the war.
It is also part of the COH 2 OKW faction!

Already in WW1, the German Army had been looking for solutions to provide attacking infantry with with a sufficient degree of mobile firepower. It was at this time that the first infantry support guns were developed which were light enough to be taken along by infantry forces and which, at the same time, possessed enough firepower to really make an impact in battle. Their disadvantage was their short range (not in COH ;-)) but this was concidered to be acceptable.





During World War 2, the Wehrmacht had originally assigned this task to assault guns - which really were mere armoured infantry support guns on tracks. But the German Reich did never succeeed in producing a sufficient number of these vehicles and, besides, was increasingly forced to use them in tank warfare.

So the Wehrmacht reverted to infantry support guns in 1944. While using the carriages of the obsolete 3.7 cm PaK, a more contemporary 7.5 cm gun was installed.
Together with shaped-charged ammunition, it could also be employed as an antitank weapon. But its primary purpose was to engage enemy infantry and fortifications by using explosive ammunition- An unusual feature of this gun is the form of its muzzle break.

Sturmgeschütz 3 Ausführung G "StuG 3" axis

Production: 1940-1945
Number Built: 9,400 (all variants)
Crew: 4
Weight: 23.9 t
Engine Output: 300 hp
Speed on Roads: 40 km/h
Armament 75 mm StuK 40 L/48 gun
7.92 mm machine gun

The role of assault guns changed radically in the course of the war!



Assault guns (Sturmgeschütze) had originally been designed as an infantry support weapon, intented to provide heavy fire during an attack. In order to fulfil this purpose, the chassis of the Panzer 3 was fitted with a short gun and armour but no turret. The shortbarreled gun (Stummelkanone) could be effectively used in combat against infantry, machine guns, and field fortifications; it was not intended for the fight against other tanks. (Stug E in COH 2)

Assault guns were highly mobile and provided enough protection to keep up with the advancing infantry on the battlefield. This made them motorised "guns for the assaulting infantry" which explains their name.



In the course of the war though, assault guns became increasingly important as an antitank weapon. To prepare them for their new role, they were refitted with more powerful guns sporting longer barrels that were required to penetrate armour. They were basically turned into tank destroyers.

Thanks a lot for taking the time to post these. Great stuff!

Thanks a lot for taking the time to post these. Great stuff!

I really enjoy creating these, and even more if people appreciate them!

Next one is coming on Monday!

Keep them coming! I hope you plan on doing an entry or 2 on the small arms/uniform section of the Museum.

Wow mate, thanks so much for sharing So much work, so much dedication, props to you !

Keep them coming! I hope you plan on doing an entry or 2 on the small arms/uniform section of the Museum.

Actually there wasn't a small arms section in the museum (at least i didn't see one, has been removed maybe?). The pics of the uniforms are pretty bad, since the glass was reflecting too much.

Maybe i will add some small arms, uniforms with infos from the interwebs, let's see how this thread develops

8,8 cm Flak axis

The 8.8 cm Flak was particularly effective against enemy tanks.


(Hooman for scale)

The gun had originally been developed as an antiaircraft gun in the late 1920s and was built in three very similar variants. It was first successfully employed by the German Condor Legion in the Spanish Civil War.

During the early campaigns of World War 2, the weapon proved its excellent effects against ground targets: Its big calibre and high muzzle velocity made it perfectly suited for these operations.



Furthermore, the barrel could be put in a horizontal position; a characteristic that was not typical of all Flak guns. Especially during the early days of the war, the "Acht-Acht", as was its contemporary name at the time, was the only German weapon that could penetrate the frontal armour of all Allied enemy tanks. As it had brought about the decision in many battles in theatres like France, Northern Africa, and the Soviet Union, it soon developed its reputation as being a miracle weapon.

The "Acht-Acht" was employed throughout all of WW2. In a modified form it was mounted in heavy German tanks such as the Tiger 1.

The weapon soon became a legend both on the German and on the Allied side. To this day, the "Acht-Acht" is one of the best known weapons of World War 2.

Ah! the good old 8.8! It was by far my favorite unit in vCoH! Note also that beside it's impressive AT performance it was a very effective AA gun and could also be used as indirect-fire artillery piece.

Sd.Kfz. 234/4 "PaK Wagen" axis

Production: 1944-1945
Number Built: 88
Crew: 4
Weight: 11.5 t
Engine Output: 220 hp
Speed on Roads: 90 km/h (PaK on steroids!)
Armament: 75 mm PaK 40 L/46 gun
7.92 mm machine gun

The Sd.Kfz 234/4 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 234/4 or "Special Purpose Vehicle 234/4") was an unusual combination of scout and combat vehicle.

The Sd.Kfz 234/4 was based on the Sd.Kfz 234/1, a conventional wheeled scout vehicle. This vehicle had many excellent properties: All-wheel drive, independent suspension, a diesel engine and the capability to drive in both directions at the same speed: (pre patch SU-85, lol) This was achieved by having two drivers, one forward and one reverse driver, which was ideal to get away from the enemy.


(It's not a Puma, the Puma was the 234/2, which had a closed turret and a weaker 5 cm gun.)

The Sd.Kfz. 234/1 had been armed with a 2 cm gun to provide some firepower for emergencies. In case of the Sd.Kfz 234/4, this was replaced by a 7.5 cm gun which pushed the load on the chassis almost to the limit of its abilities: The complete 7.5 cm antitank gun, as it is displayed in the picture above, less the wheels, was simply mounted on the vehicle.



The design featured an open-topped superstructure (unlike the closed design of the Puma) which allowed merely limited gun movement. The Vehicle carried a total of only 12 rounds but was, nevertheless, apart from its original role as a scout vehicle, employed as an antitank weapon. But it proved surprisingly successfull in carrying out its odd dual role.

Cruiser Tank A 34 Comet brits

Production: 1944-1945
Number Built: 1,186
Crew: 5
Weight: 35.7 t
Engine Output: 600 hp
Speed on Roads: 51 km/h
Armament: 76.2 mm Ordnance QF
17-pounder gun
2x7.92 mm machine guns

The Comet was the most heavily armed tank in British service during World War 2!





The British pre-war doctrine had developed tanks that did not prove particularly successful in the initial phase of World War 2. Therefore, after the war had broken out, a great deal of effort was put into the development of a tank that combined armour protection, firepower and speed. The Comet was the most successful British tank of the war. After World War 2, it remained in service with the British Army until 1958 and saw combat during the Korean War.







There are many saying the Comet's angular shape reminds them of the Tiger. The often expressed assumption, though, that the Tiger's design had been copied is not true. The Comet ranks with a number of optically similar British tanks from previous years that had already been looking like that before the appearance of the Tiger.

Another thank you Keep'em coming !

gret pictures, great topic. thx a lot

I'd really like to see the Sd.Kfz. 234/4 "PaK Wagen" in CoH2! Either with a Pak40 or as the lighter 2cm version (maybe with Pak upgrade). I love especially those more obscure weapons that were basically cobbled together from what was left from old models and upgunned or adapted in other ways (like the Stug 3: Old Panzer 3 chassis -> high powered low profile assault gun)