German heavy tank VK 30 01 (H) review history

German heavy tank VK 30 01 (H). The order for the tank was issued on September 9, 1939. In the process of development, Henschel engineers actively used the achievements of the DW II project. The first two prototypes were ready by March 1942, two more were built by October. Prototypes were actively tested at the factory site, but without a tower and weapons. At the end of the test, the two chassis were converted into heavy tank destroyers. Six towers manufactured by Krupp were installed on the Atlantic Wall.

In early September 1939, Henschel, commissioned by Wa Pruef 6, began to develop a heavy tank, designated VK 30.01 (H), which also had the alternative name Panzerkampfwagen VI (7.5 cm). The experimental tank VK 3001 (H), which followed the first two prototypes and was created, like them, under the direction of Henschel’s head of advanced development, Erwin Aders, had a frontal armor thickness of 60 mm, used a 520 mm wide track and positioned support rollers staggered, 6-cylinder engine Maybach HL 116 capacity of 300 hp at 3000 rpm, it allowed a 30-ton combat vehicle to move at a speed of 35 km / h. In the front, there were elements of the transmission, behind which were located the controls, as well as the driver’s seat (left) and the radio operator (right). The fighting compartment occupied the entire middle part of the corps.

Tests showed that VK 30.01 (H) is not inferior to Pz.Kpfw.IV in terms of tactical and technical parameters, which was quite convenient for the Wehrmacht, although its maximum speed was only 35 km / h, and the cruising range did not exceed 150 km. In addition, the prototype did not have weapons, and instead of the tower was installed its weight compensator.

The obtained data allowed to make an order for the manufacture of a batch of 8 chassis. However, by October 1941, when three of them were ready, Wa Pruef 6 refused to continue work on the tank VK 30.01 (H). The reason was the presence of prototypes of heavy tanks VK 36.01 and VK 45.01 (P), which had more powerful weapons and armor protection.

In the online game World Of Tanks, the German heavy tank is on level 5. Along with classmates you can play, lacking enough. The body is armored in a circle in the same way and I must say that the thickness of the armor plates 50 millimeters looks ridiculous from both the forehead and the sides, everyone will be able to break through, even the fourth-level technique.

The frontal projection of the tower also does not look like a stronghold of reliability either, since the nominally heavy tank VK 30.01 (H) here has only 80 millimeters of armor. However, we have a large and slightly rounded mask of the gun, its skinning in some places reaches 113 millimeters, and on holidays the shells that hit the mask will ricochet. True, the 6-7 level technique will pierce you here very easily and the chances of avoiding loss of strength points are reduced to zero.

Another unpleasant moment in our case is the dimensions of VK 30.01 (H) World of Tanks. The device is really shed, square, the coefficient of disguise is weak and it is easy to get through such a carcass.

The cherry on top of this unsightly cake will be the driving characteristics of our German, who are also very far from perfect. VK 30.01 (H) the tank received a good maximum, but due to bad dynamics we can only dial it from the slide, the tank accelerates very slowly, does not want to go up the hill and turns bad on the spot.
The positive moment of the German heavy tank VK 30.01 (H) is the gun. 7.5 cm Kw.K. 42 L / 70 and 7.5 / 5.5 cm Waffe 0725 give good results, guns are comfortable and shooting at medium and long distances is possible.