In different sources dedicated to Polish armoured vehicles from time to time one can run into various Polish tank projects that didn't make it to real life. Among those projects, there are even heavies, though after a closer look, it appears that at best we would only get Polish counterpart for KV (which is good by itself).
Meanwhile, our guys found a curious document in the bosom of Central Archive of the Russian Ministry of Defence. This document can open the whole new chapter in history of Polish tank development. The vehicle described there is able to top the tree, and, in addition to that, based on its specs, it would make a serious opponent to other high tiers. The author of the project is equally fascinating, as a person is famous in both Poland and abroad. I believe many of his fans have close to no idea about that page of his biography. And in his turn, he avoided mentioning this fact in his memoirs. So, it's sort of exclusive. :)
Meanwhile, our guys found a curious document in the bosom of Central Archive of the Russian Ministry of Defence. This document can open the whole new chapter in history of Polish tank development. The vehicle described there is able to top the tree, and, in addition to that, based on its specs, it would make a serious opponent to other high tiers. The author of the project is equally fascinating, as a person is famous in both Poland and abroad. I believe many of his fans have close to no idea about that page of his biography. And in his turn, he avoided mentioning this fact in his memoirs. So, it's sort of exclusive. :)
October 17, 1944. State Defense Commitee received the messaged from the recently freed Lviv. The author of that letter named Projects of technical innovations in defense industry was a certain Stanisław Lem. The message was written in Polish and included illustrations of what the author suggested as aid for Read Army in its struggle with Nazi Germany. The letter covers a number of technical projects, including small tanks, wheel tanks, and even rocket missiles, but we are interested in item N1.
The vehicle, suggested by Stanisław Lem, was named Czolg P (Pancernik) or tank-battleship. According to his concept, the vehicle would weigh 220 t, having 10m length and 4m width.
Tank would have cast hall. Suggested armament - 152-155mm gun (est.) mounted in main turret, 2 AA machine-guns in the rear, and 4 machine guns in smaller coppulas along the perimeter (one per each). Czolg P would have 4 tracks set in motion by single diesel engine. All in all, that would make a super heavy tank, comparable to any possible opponent. Though, the Soviet Command wasn't interested in the project - there were enough ground cruiser projects at that time.
The original message (PL):
Central Archive of the Russian Ministry of Defence, fund 38, inventory 11350, case N1039
What Czolg P could have as its main armament, based on the range of Polish guns, available that time (1939), is the following: 155MM WZ.40 gun which just as the gun on Czolg P bluepring, had a muzzle break, barrel length of 8.1m, muzzle velocity of 900 m/s, and rate of fire - 3 rpm. That would undoubtedly reduce to ashes any vehicle of that period.
What Czolg P could have as its main armament, based on the range of Polish guns, available that time (1939), is the following: 155MM WZ.40 gun which just as the gun on Czolg P bluepring, had a muzzle break, barrel length of 8.1m, muzzle velocity of 900 m/s, and rate of fire - 3 rpm. That would undoubtedly reduce to ashes any vehicle of that period.
When it comes to AA guns, it's easy - 40 mm WZ.36. And as for low caliber auto guns, this could as well be 20mm Nkm wz. 38 FK.
So generally speaking, Polish Maus would be "independent" and extremely dangerous, especially due to the fact that based on the suggested weight and size, armour thickness would make 200+mm.
So generally speaking, Polish Maus would be "independent" and extremely dangerous, especially due to the fact that based on the suggested weight and size, armour thickness would make 200+mm.
