Ratte

[Kubador]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landkreuzer_P._1000_Ratte

Though most of you know what I'm talking about I post a link for reference.

I was wondering why germans (and allies) went towards the concept of megaweapons. It got me confused. Why they even made a concept of such ridiculous vehicle? Did they really believe it could work or did they wanted to please fuhrer's thirst for a wunderwaffe, or maybe they made it for lulz?

I would like to hear your thoughts about it.

[hOMEr_jAy]

Hitler was a megalomaniac lunatic who had no eye for reality. The bigger, the better, that´s what he thought...

[Danger X]

I once had the theory that it was to impress their people. But most of the projects (like the mega Horten bombers) were secret.

I think it was more scare tactics than anything else.

[Thorondor123]

Interesting fact #75:
- There's actually Ratte in FH 0.7
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v200/Thorondor123/ratte.jpg


PS. Wonder why Fuzzy is laughing :/

[bosco]

In case of absolute air superiority, the Ratte could have been usefull against fortified enemy positions in towns etc., practically invulnerable to everything the defenders could bring up.

[Die Happy]

most of these "experimental designs" were just ridiculous, like the ratte and imo even the maus:
- too big
- too expsensive
- too slow
- too vulnerable to air attacks

on the other hand they were just designs and never went into serial production. however some of the desings were pretty good, mostly the E-series was very modern in design (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entwicklung_series) specially in terms of production simplification this series would have been very effective, most parts of the tanks would have been interchangeable between tanks. compared to the many many different models of panzer III, IV, Panther & Tigers that all needed different spare parts and production lines this e-series would have increased production.

still this was all way to late in the war to make any difference and the huge experimental tanks like maus,ratte & monster were just insane

[Recon-Team]

In case of absolute air superiority, the Ratte could have been usefull against fortified enemy positions in towns etc., practically invulnerable to everything the defenders could bring up.

Until you used up all of your fuel reserves on one tank that would probably break down every 500 yards.

The Maus was at least possible, if impractical. A few in stationary positions at Berlin for example could have certainly done some damage.

[Coca-Cola]

Maus would at least make sense with a diesel-electric engine and if you placed it in flatter environment.

[Fuchs]

I agree on the E-series, those where good. Atleast it had some future. But yes, the Ratte was more a fantasy gone wild. Waste of resources.

[Thorondor123]

I can imagine Speer seeing the plans and facepalming.

[Schneider]

I actually would have liked to really walk into the Ruhmeshalle, tbh. Of course, nationalsocialistic background and all, but I can't really imagine, to be honest, to walk into a which is 320 meters high, with a 250m wide cupola. 250 meters! The St. Peters dome in rome was already stunning, but this is crazy man.

[Mayhemic.MAD]

You also have to think about the relatively early time they designed this stuff.
With Tanks and Planes being just invented a few decades earlier, everything seemed possible.
Even if something seemed ridiculous at first, you still had to try it and most likely you had at least some good new Propaganda out of it.
Also it´s very likely that the German Engineers were all reading too much Jules Verne

[konti]

Hitler was a megalomaniac lunatic who had no eye for reality. The bigger, the better, that´s what he thought...

Correct.

[Dukat]

Bigger proved in fact to be better.
The people who ordered these tanks to be designed were pencil pushers.
First they called for tender a vehicle of 1 ton and industry build it.
And then it goes on: 3 tons, 6 tons, 12 tons, 24 tons, each with a huge list of specifications like armament and armour. For the pencil pushers this is easy, they ask to get what war prooved to be needed. Bigger guns and better armour. So, the request is first, the realization comes later. The problems of a big tank, like suspension, sinking depth or the engine are not that obvious on the first glimpse. Nobody had tried that before. It all appeared to be a question of engineering.

[GirlsHateMe]

Bigger proved in fact to be better.
The people who ordered these tanks to be designed were pencil pushers.
First they called for tender a vehicle of 1 ton and industry build it.
And then it goes on: 3 tons, 6 tons, 12 tons, 24 tons, each with a huge list of specifications like armament and armour. For the pencil pushers this is easy, they ask to get what war prooved to be needed. Bigger guns and better armour. So, the request is first, the realization comes later. The problems of a big tank, like suspension, sinking depth or the engine are not that obvious on the first glimpse. Nobody had tried that before. It all appeared to be a question of engineering.

And the Germans happened to be the best engineers in the business, Vorsprung durch Technik!