Borgward IV
| Borgward IV | |
|---|---|
 Borgward IV at the Deutsches Panzermuseum | |
| Type | Demolition vehicle |
| Place of origin |  Nazi Germany |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 3.45 tonnes |
| Length | 3.35 m |
| Width | 1.80 m |
| Height | 1.25 m |
| Crew | 1 |
| Armour | up to 20 mm |
Main armament | 450 kilograms (990 lb) explosive charge |
| Engine | Borgward water-cooled 4-cylinder gasoline engine 49 PS |
| Power/weight | 14.2 PS/tonne |
| Suspension | torsion bar |
Operational range | 120 km |
| Maximum speed | 40 km/h (road) |
The Borgward IV, officially designated Schwerer Ladungsträger Borgward B IV (heavy explosive carrier Borgward B IV), was a German remote-controlled demolition vehicle used in World War II.
Design
During World War II, the Wehrmacht used three remotely operated demolition tanks: the light Goliath (Sd.Kfz. 302/303a/303b), the medium Springer (Sd.Kfz. 304) and the heavy Borgward IV (Sd.Kfz. 301). The Borgward IV was the largest of the vehicles and was the only one capable of releasing its explosives before detonating; the two smaller vehic5les were destroyed when their explosive charges detonated.
Borgward originally developed the vehicle as an ammunition carrier, but was found unsuitable. It was also tested as a remote minesweeper, but was too vulnerable to mines and too expensive. In 1941, the Waffenamt ?ordered its development as a remote-controlled demolition vehicle, and the first vehicles were delivered in 1942. The Borgward IV was much heavier than the Goliath, and carried a much larger payload. Both the Borgward IV and the Goliath were operated by radio, but due to the Borgward IV's much longer range a driver in the vehicle would bring it independently to its destination before dismounting and conducting it to its target by radio. When it reached the target, the vehicle would drop the charge and leave the danger area. This put Borgward IV operators in great danger. While the Borgward IV was armored, its armor was inadequate by 1942-43, and its larger size than the Goliath made it much easier to spot.
Variants
Three versions of the Borgward were produced, Ausführung (abbreviated to Ausf.) A, Ausf. B and Ausf. C, mostly differing in armor and radio.
About 616 of the Ausf. A model were produced from May 1942 to June 1943, 260 Ausf. B from June to November of 1943 and 305 Ausf. C until September 1944. In contrast, 7564 of the smaller Goliaths were produced.
Survivors
Surviving Borgward IVs are displayed in the Heeresgeschichtliches Museum in Vienna and the Deutsches Panzermuseum in Munster.
On 31 March 2010, demolition work and excavation at Wien Südbahnhof uncovered a well-preserved Borgward IV along with other relics from the Vienna Offensive. The Heeresgeschichtliches Museum salvaged and restored it for display there. [1]
See also
Literatur
- Thomas Ilming: Die „Wunderwaffe“ unter dem Südbahnhof: Borgward B IV c, in: Viribus Unitis, Jahresbericht 2010 des Heeresgeschichtlichen Museums. Wien 2011, S. 150-156, ISBN 978-3-902551-19-1
- Alexander Lüdeke, Waffentechnik im Zweiten Weltkrieg. Infanteriewaffen, ungepanzerte Fahrzeuge, gepanzerte Fahrzeuge, Artillerie, Spezialwaffen, Flugzeuge, Schiffe. Parragon Books, Bath 2007, ISBN 978-1-4054-8584-5.
- Markus Jaugitz: Die deutsche Fernlenktruppe. Teil 1: 1940–1943. Podzun-Pallas, Wölfersheim-Berstadt 1994, ISBN 3-7909-0502-X, (Waffen-Arsenal Special 10).
- Markus Jaugitz: Die deutsche Fernlenktruppe. Teil 2: 1943–1945. Podzun-Pallas, Wölfersheim-Berstadt 1995, ISBN 3-7909-0529-1, (Waffen-Arsenal Special 12).
References
- ^ Kampfzone Südbahnhof, in: Wiener Zeitung.at, 31. März 2010
Category:Borgward Category:Military robots Category:World War II German vehicles