WesWorld

Thoughts on what developments are contemplated in the future of the Heer's equipment.

Small Arms

The introduction of the Polte 7.92x45mm intermediate cartridge presented the Heer with a logistics issue that demanded immediate attention. In the years to come this will be addressed in this manner.

The Maschinenkarabinier G6 is to be the standard rifle for mechanized and motorized troops, a state to be met as soon as production rates permit. Eventually the G6 will be the standard rifle for all regular troops, and, at some point in the future, the reserves as well.

In the interim, the Selbstlade Gewehr G5 will be adapted to the Polte cartridge and existing stocks of rifles modified accordingly. Production of the modified G5 will continue until production of the G6 catches up with requirements. The Heer decision to modify its stocks of G5 rifles may influence other users of the SK-42 to do likewise; discussions with SIG and Kazanlak will be explored along these lines.

The Maschinengewehr MG3 will similarly be adapted to the new cartridge while the longer-term search for a replacement gets under way. The older Maschinengewehr 33, now primarily used as a coaxial weapon on armored vehicles, will be retained unchanged until it can be replaced by a universal machinegun (if such a design can be developed).

The Maschinenpistole 36 will be replaced in the hands of mechanized and motorized troops by the G6 rifle. Paratroops and other specialist units are likely to retain the MP36 in substantial numbers for the foreseeable future.

The Heer has identified the need for a smaller, lighter, personal defense weapon for vehicle crews, a role presently performed by the MP36. Requests for potential designs have been issued to industry and trials should begin sometime in 1949.

Infantry Support Weapons

The Heer desires to replace its current 8cm mortar with a design that is lighter through increasing the range of the mortar. To fill the existing gap between rifle grenades and mortars, the Heereswaffenamt has begun a development program for a man-portable grenade launcher firing a projectile in the 3 to 4cm range. The Heer also seeks to replace its current man-portable antitank weapons with ordnance of greater range and lethality. Requirements have not yet been formalized.

Quoted from "BruceDuncan"

In the interim, the Selbstlade Gewehr G5 will be adapted to the Polte cartridge and existing stocks of rifles modified accordingly. Production of the modified G5 will continue until production of the G6 catches up with requirements. The Heer decision to modify its stocks of G5 rifles may influence other users of the SK-42 to do likewise; discussions with SIG and Kazanlak will be explored along these lines.

Kazanlak would certainly be willing to assist with rechambering projects on an as-needed basis for customers. (For that matter, if the Germans need a bit of spare capacity for contract work to rechamber, Kazanlak would be willing to try their hand at it.)

The Swiss stuck with 7.5x55 well into the battle rifle era - they always preferred to arm marksmen with harder-hitting rifles. Even with rechambering options available, I don't see the Swiss Army changing small arms calibers for... at least two decades.

The Bulgarian Army might not stick with it that long, but they're pretty firmly still in the camp of preferring a full-power rifle cartridge. When the time comes for them to switch, though, 7.92x45 German Intermediate won't have any more or less advantages compared to some of the other existing intermediate rounds on the market (6.5x51 FAR or 7x43 Brit just as the two leading contenders). It'd probably boil down to some political considerations about who they wanted to make a deal with.

I envision the discussions with SIG and Kazanlak would tend more along the lines of "This is what we're doing with our SKs, what do you think?" and "You've sold a lot of SKs over the years, if anyone asks about adopting an intermediate round, please keep us in mind". Might additional capacity be necessary for conversions? Not impossible. I'm just trying to sketch the dimensions of the box here.

Here I am throwing out my thoughts, rather than concrete plans. Comments welcome.

Field Artillery

With the exception of the 10.5 cm leichte Feldhaubitze 44 the Heer’s artillery park is getting rather long in the tooth. The basic designs of most of the towed artillery dates to the 1930s, and the self-propelled artillery pieces of the Heer are RL designs of WW2 vintage, with all the limitations thereof. The FH44 is going to have to hold the line while fresh designs are worked out. I’ve figured out that the Heer requires:

A new heavy field howitzer – probably of 15cm; a heavy field gun – also probably of 15 cm, though I am going to explore alternatives. A new mountain howitzer - probably of 10.5cm and sharing ammunition with the FH44. The question of SP artillery will hinge in large measure on the choices made for towed artillery.

As you can see, I have yet to work out a lot of details. It’s really difficult to find historical exemplars when your military didn’t exist between 1945 and 1955… :(

Antitank Artillery

For the moment the 8cm leichte Panzerabwehrkanone 45 can hold the line in this category, and the 7,5 cm Panzerabwehrkanone 40 has some life left in it. However, time-wise the Heer is on the cusp of change – to either develop lighter, recoilless AT weaponry, or to persevere with its present ordnance while focusing on antitank guided weapons. There is much to be said for either. The first generation of western ATGWs were far too large for use by infantry units, and seemed to be used as replacements for specialist AG guns. That is the paradigm I will probably explore.

Air Defense Artillery

The 8.8cm Flugabwehrkanone 43 and the 5,5 cm Flugabwehrkanone Gerät 58 are fine for the moment, so long as their radars can keep pace with aircraft development. But guided missiles are in the cards – how exactly this would work out I don’t yet know, and no hardware would likely enter service until the early 1950s, though prototypes and field trials are likely to precede that. A 3cm gun for field force AA – probably SP, is something I am leaning towards at the moment.

Quoted from "BruceDuncan"

A new heavy field howitzer – probably of 15cm; a heavy field gun – also probably of 15 cm, though I am going to explore alternatives. A new mountain howitzer - probably of 10.5cm and sharing ammunition with the FH44. The question of SP artillery will hinge in large measure on the choices made for towed artillery.

Could have a look at the French Obusier de 155 mm Modèle 44, which is a slightly earlier variant of the OTL Model 50. Could use either as a licensed design, or as the basis for a 150mm gun with more German parts involved.

I've been looking at the guns of the period but haven't found anything that speaks to me yet. But the French M50 is one option with which to start.

Armored Vehicles

If there is one segment of the Heer’s equipment with which it is happy armored vehicles would be it. The Panther battle tank and the Lowe light tank are seen as adequate for the jobs they face, and the tracked support vehicles (Luchs, Marder, etc.) are considered the most advanced in Europe. (YMMV, but that is the Heer’s assessment). Why this attitude? There has been no significant operational experience garnered in WW’s last ten-plus years. Having jumped to the forefront with the Panther, I’ve deliberately chosen not to introduce another battle tank.

That is not to say that the Heer hasn’t got an idea of what it would want. Something a bit lighter than the Panther, with adequate protection, good mobility, and more firepower. A new 10.5cm tank gun is on the drawing board and might be tested sometime in 1949. Its first employment might be on a next-generation tank destroyer. A new chassis needs to be developed for such a vehicle, which would likely form the basis of the self-propelled artillery referred to above.

There is a segment of the Heer that would prefer a wheeled, quiet, low-profile reconnaissance vehicle to augment the Luchs series and replace the surviving armored cars. Whether they can push their views remains to be seen.

Have you looked at some of the stillborn German projects from WW2 as a basis, or perhaps Skoda designs from the early post-war period to base a design on?

I feel the shift to SPGs will become irresistible. The British Army has a range of new SPGs for its heavier guns for armoured formations and corps artillery, its only low-rate production in fairly small numbers but given the increase in airpower they days of massed gun emplacements might be waning. Of course we still have no counter-battery radar systems etc. but counter fire is still likely to be quite effective now that VT fuses have become more widespread in the last few years.

Therefore perhaps you only really need one 15cm field gun and maybe a smaller pack howitzer would fulfil the howitzer need and the mountain gun?
The British Army faces the same problem with age but I suspect as in OTL that the 25pdr will soldier on for another decade at least.

Recoilless for anti-tank work is probably the best option at this time. ATGW is going to need a lot of development and I can't see it being feasible until the mid-50s at the earliest.

A new 8x8 wheeled reconnaissance vehicle sounds an interesting project, you might even end up with a variant like the BTR-60?

Hood scripset:

Quoted

A new 8x8 wheeled reconnaissance vehicle sounds an interesting project, you might even end up with a variant like the BTR-60?

The Heer's philosophy calls for quiet and stealth for close reconnaissance work. A new wheeled reconnaissance vehicle would look more like a Ferret/Fox. The tracked Luchs is fine enough for the mechanized troops but the infantry needs something to replace the rather elderly OTL spahpanzers.

*posts a Ferret brochure to the relevant department*

The Germans always seemed to go for larger scout in OTL, I agree though that a smaller 4x4 vehicle would be better as a proper scout.