Overview[]
The Erprobungsträger mit dreiachsig stabilisierter Turm III F is a German prototype main battle tank developed in the 1960s from the Leopard.
The experimental turret went through multiple issues which were eventually solved but proved cost ineffective and was ultimately not adopted, although research continued with other related projects.
A surviving example is located at WTS in Koblenz.
Design[]
The vehicle uses a widened Leopard 1 chassis with a new armour body. The experimental Turm III F was fitted, and featured the proof-of-concept three-axis stabilization functionality that was under research at the time.
The main gun was fixed in position, with the turret slewing like a conventional turret to aim horizontally, but using turret oscillation to aim vertically. The third axis allowed the turret to tilt to the left or right, to allow for corrected aiming while on a slope. All controls of the turret movement were powered only, with no manual controls.
Limited internal space reduced the ammo load, so an outboard 30mm cannon with external ammunition stowage was added to combat lighter targets that may otherwise waste valuable stored ammunition.
 West GermanyLand Vehicles Cold War Period (1946 — 1990) |
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| Tracked Vehicles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Light Tanks | Light Tank | Begleitpanzer 57 • DF 105 • HS 30 • M41 GTI • RU 251 • Spähpanzer SP I.C. • TH301 |
| Infantry Fighting Vehicle | Lynx KF41 • Marder 1 (1A1, 1A1A, 1A1A2, 1A1A3, 1A1A4, 1A1A5, 1A2, 1A2A1, 1A3, 1A4, 1A5, 1A5A1) • RU 122 • Schützenpanzer 12-3 • Schützenpanzer Puma • TH302 • Wiesel 1 BTM-208 • Wiesel 1 MK20 • Wiesel 1 MK25 | |
| Infantry Fighting Vehicle, Command | M577G • Schützenpanzer 12-3 FüFu • Wiesel 2 Command Post | |
| Medium Tanks | Main Battle Tank | BV MBT • EP (T III F) • Gefectsfeldversuchträger 01 (02 • 03 • 04 • 05) • Indien-Panzer • KPz Leop 1 (A0 • A1 • A1 A1 • A1 A2 • A1 A3 • A1 A4 • A2 • Kampfpanzer Leopard 1 A2 A1 • A2 A2 • A2 A3 • A3 • A3 A1 • A3 A2 • A3 A3 • A4 • A5 • A5 A1 • Proto I A • Proto I B • Proto I C • Proto II A • Proto II B) • KPz Leop 2 (2A1 • 2A2 • 2A3 • 2A4 • 2A5 • 2A6 • 2A7 • 2A7+) • KPz 70 • KPz 80 • Porsche Europanzer • RRV EP1-15/6 • VT 1-1 • VT 1-2 |
| Main Battle Tank, Command | PzBefWg Leopard 1 • PzBefWg Leopard 2 | |
| Medium Tank | M 47 • M 48 (A1 • A2 • A2 C • A2 C G • A2 G • A2 G A2) | |
| Self-Propelled Guns | Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun & SAM | Flugabwehrkanonenpanzer Gepard (A1 • A2) • Matador • Marder 1 Roland 2 • Marder 1 Roland 3 • M42A1 • RU 222 • TH325 • Wiesel 2 leFlaSys • Wiesel 2 Ozelot |
| Self-Propelled Anti-Tank Guided Missile | 90mm Jagdpanzer mit Ferngesteuerten Panzerabwehrraketen • Raketenjagdpanzer 1 • Raketenjagdpanzer 2 • Raketenjagdpanzer 3 • Raketenjagdpanzer 4 • Schützenpanzer Typ B mit Ferngesteuerten Panzerabwehrraketen • Wiesel 1 ATM HOT • Wiesel 1 ATM TOW | |
| Self-Propelled Anti-Tank Gun | 90mm Jagdpanzer • Kanonenjagdpanzer 4-5 • Marder 1VTS1 | |
| Self-Propelled Howitzer | PzH M55 • PzH M109G • PzH M109A3GA1 • PzH M110 • PzH 2000 | |
| Self-Propelled Mortar | M113 Panzermörser • Mörserträger 51-2 • Schützenpanzer 12-3 Panzermörser • Schützenpanzer Typ B Panzermörser • Tampella Panzermörser | |
| Self-Propelled Recoilless Gun | RU 242 • Schützenpanzr 12-3 LGS • Wiesel 2 RMK 30 | |
| Self-Propelled Rocket Artillery | LARS 1 • LARS 2 • MARS II • Raketensystem 80 | |
| Explosive Related | Mine Laying | Minenwerfer Skorpion |
| Mine Clearing / Sweeping | Minenräumpanzer Keiler | |
| Misc Tanks | Ammunition Carrier | Nachschubpanzer 42-1 • Wiesel 1 ATM TOW Resupply • Wiesel 2 Carrier |
| Armoured Personnel Carrier | Bandvagn 206S • M113A1G • M113A2G • Schützenpanzer Typ A • Schützenpanzer Typ B | |
| Armoured Recovery | Bergepanzer 1 • Bergepanzer 2 | |
| Bridge Laying | M3 Amphibious Rig • Panzerschnellbrücke Biber auf Brückenleger • Panzerschnellbrücke Leguan | |
| Engineering & Maintenance | Pionierpanzer Dachs • Wiesel 2 Engineering Scout | |
| Medical | Bandvagn 206S Ambulance • Sanitätspanzer Kurz 2-2 • Wiesel 2 Ambulance | |
| Observation, Spotting & Survey | Beobachtungspanzer 22-2 • Schützenpanzer 12-3 Feuerleitpanzer | |
| RADAR | Radarpanzer 91-2 • Wiesel 1 Radar • Wiesel 1 RCS | |
| Recon | PzAufk Leopard 1A1 • Schützenpanzer 11-2 Kurz • Wiesel 1 Aufklärung • Wiesel 2 Argus • Wiesel 2 Engineering Scout • Wiesel 2 Primus | |
| Wheeled Vehicles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Offensive / Defensive | Infantry Fighting Vehicles | GTK Boxer |
| Tank Destroyer / Self-Propelled Gun | Radpanzer 90 | |
| Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun & SAM | GTK Boxer SysFla • MAN Roland 3 | |
| Self-Propelled Anti-Tank Guided Missile | Transportpanzer 1 MILAN • Volkswagen Iltis Milan 1 • Volkswagen Iltis Milan 2 | |
| Other | Armoured Car | LAPV Enok • Sonderwagen III • TH200 • TH400 • TH800 |
| Armoured Personnel Carrier | GTK Boxer • KMW Grizzly • Transportpanzer 1 (1A1 • 1A2 • 1A3) | |
| Cargo | GTK Boxer | |
| Command | GTK Boxer | |
| Engineering | ATF Dingo 2A3 GSI • ATF Dingo 2A3 System Repair • GTK Boxer | |
| Fire Fighting | Magirus Mercur • Magirus Saturn | |
| Infantry Mobility Vehicle | ATF Dingo 1 (2 • 2A1 • 2A2) | |
| Medical | GTK Boxer | |
| Observation, Spotting & Survey | GTK Boxer | |
| Reconnaissance | LGS Fennek • Spähpanzer Luchs (A1) • Volkswagen Iltis Aufk. | |
| Transport & Towing | Magirus Jupiter • Mercedes-Benz Zetros 1833 • Mercedes-Benz Zetros 2733 • MOWAG Duro • MOWAG Eagle IV • MOWAG Eagle V • Mungo ESK • Rheinmetall YAK • SLT 2 Mammut • SLT 50 Elefant • SLT 56 Franziska • Unimog U5000 437.430 | |
| Utility | LIV (SO) Serval • Mercedes-Benz G-Class Wolf • Volkswagen T3 • Volkswagen T4 • Volkswagen T5 • Volkswagen Iltis | |
| Sources | ||
|---|---|---|
| Books | Online | Documents |
| • Kampfpanzer - Die Entwicklung der Nachkriegszeit - Rolf Hilms (ISBN 3-524-89001-6) • Kampfpanzer LEOPARD 1 in der Bundeswehr - Späte Jahre - Frank Lobits (ISBN N/A) |
• topwar.ru | |