I am watching this forum since some years and decided today to become a member.The scan below comes from a German book and displays a half-track lorry with naval gun for anti-tank use as the subtitle claims. I think it could be a Daimler Marienfelde ALZ 13 but I am not so familiar with cars and lorries of WWI. The caliber of the gun seems to be pretty small, maybe 37 mm? Does anybody know more details of this construction?
Indeed, it looks very improvised and not like a purpose-designed tank buster. However, even a "show" must have had a deeper reason. Reportedly A.O.K. 2 and Heeresgruppe Rupprecht demand and tested (obviously successless) different new vehicles "on wheels or chains" to fight tanks in 1917/18. So, I wonder if this has anything to do with this picture.
-- Edited by K-Flak on Thursday 2nd of June 2011 05:30:38 PM
-- Edited by K-Flak on Thursday 2nd of June 2011 05:31:49 PM
-- Edited by K-Flak on Thursday 2nd of June 2011 05:36:26 PM
The initial idea was to mount the socle-mounted 5.7-cm gun also used in the A7V tanks and the captured male Mk.IVs on normal lorries - as quick intervention weapons in case of an enemy tank offensive.
But normal lorries were strictly roadbound. Thus, the idea to mount the guns on halftracks, which had a certain ability to move cross-country, arrived quite naturally.
However, nothing got ever ready in time. Decisions were made far too late. - Thus, I suspect this picture was taken just to document (after the war) that something had been done in time. But by placing the wrong gun on the Marienwagen, the makers of the picture betray that they were cheating.
Thank you! This assumption could be reasonable but I think without documental proof it will not make it into the realm of established facts and opponents will probably say the Germans had other problems in 1918/19. Nevertheless, an interesting opportunity.
)
