Nothing like a good tank debate to get the day started!!!
The Heer in WWII always struck me as the best example of too many cooks, in too many kitchens, with a common goal, but taking every possible avenue to get there. Calling it utter chaos doesn't even begin to describe the situation.
Not counting a certain design from WWI, German tank design really kicks off in 1927 with the WD Schlepper 25PS (37mm SPAT) and the WD Schlepper 50PS (77mm how), these were little more than lightly armored (3mm) tracters with their weapons mounted on pedestals, both saw service with the Heer, but in very limited numbers, sources range from less than 30 to as many as 100.
In 1929 the next design was the Leichtertraktor which mounted a 37mm gun in a rotating turret, armor was light(3-6mm) and only two protypes were ever ordered. This was further developed in in 1932 some 40 were in service.
In 1930 came the Grosstraktor, this was a much larger vehicle mounting the 75mm L24 gun and was the vehicle used in Kama USSR for testing. Some 24 were built and served through the war as parade monuments.
1933 saw the Neubaufahzeug, the German entry into the multi-turreted tank race (armed with a 75mmL24, a 37mm L45 and a coax in the main turret and two secondary mg turrets). Three were built and saw service in the invasion of Norway in 1940, where one was destroyed.
These three designs were never intended as combat vehicles, but rather as test beds to give the designers, production lines and the troops some experience with tanks.
source is the "Encyclopedia of German Tanks of WWII"
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The reason that the American Army does so well in wartime, is that war is chaos, and the American Army practices chaos on a daily basis.
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