The panzertriebwagen 16 model is here

After the french campaign and considering the future campaign against the Soviet Union, the German army, aware of the peculiarities of the future russian theater of operation, decided to build new models of armored trains. So,on December 13, 1940, decision was taken for the construction of Panzerzüge SP41 and SP42. Type SP42 was to consist of seven armored cars towed by a 1260 hp diesel locomotive capable of towing 600 tons up to 50 km / h. The project was to be finalized by September 1942 with production for the summer of 1943 but was never completed. The preparatory studies were nevertheless used for the Panzertriebwagen 16. In fact, for the prototype of the Panzerzug SP42, a diesel locomotive WR550D14 (n ° 21304) was equipped with a 50mm armored superstructure built by Berliner Maschinenbau AG of Wildau in 1942. For reasons of excessive weight, the locomotive received two four-axle front and rear bogies. It is this assembly that was the basis of the Panzertriebwagen 16. It is therefore presented with an armored diesel locomotive in the center and two bogies at the ends that include the armament.

The Panzertriebwagen 16 was activated on January 27, 1944. Originally, it was equipped on both bogies with 20mm Flakvierling 38 guns without shields but this armament was considered derisory for such a powerful craft, so it was then rearmed with two Russian 76.2mm FK295 / 1 guns comparable to those of the Panzerzüge BP42.

Powered by a 550 HP engine and protected by a 31- to 84-mm thick armor, this machine was the heaviest and most powerful in its class. Built in a single copy, it only served on the eastern front. For its antitank protection, it was assigned at each end, a panzerjägerwagen superstructure with T34 turret.

In the summer of 1944 he was associated with Panzerzug 11 (with Panzertriebwagen 18) and operated in Ukraine. In July, following Operation Bagration, Panzerzug 11 broke a Russian encirclement in the Rawa-Russka area and participated in the defense of Lublin. He then retreated by the river San on July 27 and 28, 1944, participated in the defense of Radom by artillery fire. From August to September 1944, he left the front to be based in Kielce and participate in the protection of railways in the Krakow, Skarzysko and Radom region. On January 12, 1945, he was surrounded again, but thanks to his crew who built a special way, he was able to escape. From February to April 1945, he was subordinated to Panzerzug 65. In April 1945, he participated in the battle of Neuruppin. From April to May 1945, he was assigned to Panzerzug 350. On May 2, he was captured intact south of Neuruppin-Neustadt (Dosse) by the first Polish army. Poland receives it as a spoils of war after the German capitulation, and it was reused by the Polish army in the unit 4194E in the battles of 1946, 1947 against the troops of the UPA (Ukrainian insurectionnal army). In 1950, he was removed from service for repair and received the numbering in the PKP flow chart of « WP870027 ». In 1969, it was used in the film Red Rowan and found its place in 1974 at the Warsaw Railway Museum where one can still see it.

Characteristics :

length: 22,2m / width: 3,2m / height: 4,3m

weight: 170t (a bogie: 60t)

power: diesel engine MAN 6 cylinder 550CV / tank: 2400 liters / speed: 60km/h

Protection: 31 to 84mm

crew: 12

armament: two Russian guns of 76.2mm F.K.295/1 with 250 rounds.