The Archer was one of the most unusual tanks of World War II, developed and produced by Britain. It was based on the chassis of the Valentine infantry tank and armed with the 17-pounder anti-tank gun. What made the Archer unique was that its gun faced the rear of the vehicle, meaning the tank often had to be reversed into firing position. Approximately 665 units were built.
The Ersatz M10 was an attempt during the Ardennes Offensive in 1944, with the help of Operation “Greif,” to break through the Allied lines and disrupt their supply lines, as well as to take over and occupy strategic points such as bridges in order to secure the advance of the German troops. For this purpose, five Panther Ausf. G tanks were converted with thin sheet metal to resemble the M10 Wolverine, thus deceiving the Allied soldiers.
The LT vz.38 was a light tank originally from Czechoslovakia and built by Škoda and ČKD. A total of at least 6,919 examples were built, including pre-war and licensed models in every imaginable configuration. Following the German occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1939, the German Reich captured plans, production equipment, and some examples of the LT vz.38 that had not yet been deployed in the Czech army and renamed them the Pz. 38(t). Later, a licensed version, along with some examples, was sold to Sweden, who renamed it the Stridsvagn m/41 and slightly modified it. The Pz. 38(t) was used by Germany throughout World War II and also influenced several other tank designs, including the German E-series.
The M22 Locust was a light tank developed and used by the Americans and British during World War II. It was only used once during the war: Operation Varsity. Eight of the 260 British M22 Locusts were deployed in Operation Varsity in the German towns of Hamminkeln and Wesel. Of these, only four reached the rendezvous point on high ground; two were damaged during landing and two others were damaged or destroyed in the fighting. After World War II, the Locust was quickly deemed obsolete and retired.
The Panzerkampfwagen II, also known as the PzKpfw II, Panzer II, or Sd.Kfz 121 was a light German tank used in World War II and the pre-war period. Developed in the 1930s by MAN and Daimler-Benz, it was intended as a temporary solution and formed the backbone of the Wehrmacht’s armored divisions at the beginning of the war. A total of 3,404 Panzer II’s of various types were built. They were used not only by Germany but also by Romania, Slovakia, and Norway.
The Sturmtiger (lit. 'Assault Tiger') was a heavy German self-propelled gun from World War II, developed on the basis of the Tiger I heavy tank. Its main armament consisted of the 38 cm RW61 rocket launcher. This rocket launcher was capable of firing massive explosive shells weighing 350 kg with a range of up to 5,000 meters. The Sturmtiger was primarily developed to destroy heavily fortified enemy positions, such as bunkers or occupied buildings. Its first battle was during the Warsaw Uprising in August 1944, where it successfully destroyed insurgent buildings and barricades. Other missions included the Battle of the Bulge, the Battle of the Reichswald (Kleve/Germany) and the Battle of Remagen. Due to its specific role and the limited production number of only 18 units, the Sturmtiger did not have a decisive influence on the course of the war.
The Tiger II or Sdkfz. 182 (Sdkfz. 267 / Sdkfz. 268 for Command vehicles), also known as the King Tiger (officially Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. H/B, P), was delivered to the German Wehrmacht starting in October 1943 and represented one of the most advanced tank designs of World War II. A total of 492 units were produced, with the majority manufactured by Henschel and Krupp. The Tiger II combined the robust armor of its predecessor, the Tiger I, with sloped frontal armor up to 185 mm thick and the powerful 8.8-cm KwK 43 L/71 gun, capable of destroying almost any Allied tank at long range. Weighing 70 tons, with a top speed of 38 km/h (road) and a range of up to 170 km, it was prone to mechanical failures and fuel shortages, limiting its strategic effectiveness.
The E-series (Entwicklung; development series) consisted of a series of standardized tank types which were intended to replace existing German tanks of the Second World War such as the Panther, Tiger, Jagdpanzer IV, and Panzerjäger 38(t). However, most of them only reached the development stages and were not fully built.
The Panzerwerfer 42, also known as the Sd.Kfz. 4/1, was a German multiple rocket launcher from World War II that stood out for its combination of firepower and mobility. It was developed on the chassis of the “Maultier” half-track, a modified version of the Opel Blitz truck, to improve its ability to maneuver in difficult terrain. The vehicle was equipped with a 15 cm Nebelwerfer 42, capable of firing up to ten rockets simultaneously. These rockets, with a range of approximately 7,000 meters, could carry explosive, smoke, or incendiary payloads.
The Panzerkampfwagen III (PzKpfw. III for short), commonly known as the Panzer III, was a German medium tank in service from 1937. It played an important role in the Second World War as the Panzer III and its chassis was used on all fronts. From 1936 to 1942, 5,700 Panzer IIIs were built. In addition, more than 10,000 StuG IIIs (Sdkfz.142) based on the same chassis were built from 1940 to 1945.
