The Weaponry of the Army of Koenwitz

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The Army’s materiel needs are supplied by the Munitions Works at the small town of Spreelow, on the eastern outskirts of Koenburg [1]. Spreelow was originally a small hamlet of just 10 persons, but in 1849 Crown-Prince Thomas Koenwitz ordered the establishment of “a factory to provide my militias with modern weaponry”. By 1900, the hamlet had disappeared, replaced by the vast munitions works. Even today Spreelow actually has very little habitation, most workers commuting from Koenburg or the surrounding villages. Because of the rich iron ore and mineral deposits in the southern valleys and the oil deposits in the central plains, the works have been amply supplied with high-quality materials.

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Engineers at Spreelow test the first two Pz-48 medium tanks in the winter of 1960
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Given the country’s Germanic roots, it is perhaps not surprising that once Spreelow had been established Crown-Prince Thomas immediately called upon the military back home to provide advisors and examples of equipment for the new munitions works. A small party of 50 advisors arrived in 1853 with a wide array of weaponry. In what was to become the standard pattern for the plant, the Spreelow works ultimately went on to produce copies of this foreign military material, though in many cases the Spreelow versions were vastly better than the original. While perhaps lacking imagination, it allowed Spreelow to arm the troops with surprising rapidity during the two Great Armament Plans of 1856 and 1950. It has also given significant potency to the Army of such a small nation.

As stated in the history, until 1920 there was no standing army in Koenwitz. Until 1855, the three militia forces; the Eastern, Central and Western Militias, were still using muskets and powder cannon. It was the use of such worryingly antiquated equipment that spurred on Thomas’ plan for the Spreelow works. On January 3rd 1856, the Koenwitz Parliament enacted the first Great Armament Plan, which called on the works to re-equip the militias with the latest in weaponry. This plan was enforced throughout the nineteenth century, so that, by 1890, the militias were fully equipped with bolt-action rifles and muzzle-loading cannon on a par with their European equivalents.

Yet, during the first half of the twentieth century and the rule of Crown-Prince Theodor, little effort was made to continue modernising equipment. While Theodor wanted a large, strong army, he had little idea of how they would be equipped. The revolution of 1912, which resulted in the scuttling of the nation’s only battleship, further enforced the rapid decline in the quality of the army’s equipment. Only the aid of Germany in the 1930s – which supplied Koenwitz with a battalion of Panzer II light tanks – and America in the 1940s – which gave the country a single battalion of early-production M4 Shermans – gave the Army any sense of modernity.

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A new recruit in the 2nd Infantry poses with his kit and Gew-60 Battle Rifle, Spreelow's first successful modern weapon
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However, upon Crown-Prince Reinhardt’s succession, things began to change. In 1950 he forced parliament to enact the Second Great Armament Plan. This gave the chiefs at Spreelow a free hand financially to create new, modern weapons and to seek foreign aid. The result was that by the late 1960s, the Royal Army was one of the best equipped in the world.

The traumatic events of the 1970s, 80s and 90s meant that the Army has, once again, lagged behind in keeping its Army equipped with modern weaponry. Given that Koenwitz has not sought, nor does not seek to engage in any foreign wars, this matters little, particularly as its remaining equipment is highly effective. However, the nation still faces many dangers, and at time of writing the government is working on a third Great Armament Plan to bring the Army resolutely into the 21st century.

Contents

Infantry Weapons

The Pistole 71/71A Handgun

VITAL STATISTICS

  • Calibre: 9mm
  • Rate of Fire: 30 rounds per minute
  • Magazine Capacity: 10 rounds
  • Effective Range: 100m

The P-71 is based upon the German Luger artillery pistol and has been a favoured sidearm for Koenwitzian officers and artillerymen since the 1870s. The original P-71 has a significant drawback in that it only had a five-round magazine and had to be cocked after each shot. However, in 1971, the P-71A was brought in to replace the aging pistols, fitted with a ten-round magazine and a semi-automatic action. Currently, 300,000 P-71/71A sidearms have been produced and they continue to be used by the Army. The President himself still carries the P-71A he was issued with at the start of the war, and which he used to force the Crown-Prince to surrender in 1990.

The Pistole G-4 Handgun

VITAL STATISTICS

  • Calibre: 9mm
  • Rate of Fire: 50 rounds per minute
  • Magazine Capacity: 15 rounds
  • Effective Range: 100m

The G-4 is based upon the Browning Hi-Power 9mm pistol, and is Koenwitz’s first modern pistol. First produced in 1993, over 150,000 weapons have been built and are gradually replacing the existing P-71A.

The Gew-41 Semi-Automatic Rifle

VITAL STATISTICS

  • Calibre: 7.92mm
  • Rate of Fire: 80 rounds per minute
  • Magazine Capacity: 10 rounds
  • Effective Range: 1,000m

In the 1950s, the Army was painfully aware that its old Gew-1890 bolt-action rifles were beginning to fall behind the times. In 1951, Spreelow purchased a crate of unused Mauser Gewehr-41 semi-automatic rifles, the early models of what was eventually the German Gew-43. The team spent a year working on the weapons and improving them for Koenwitzian production, and in 1953 the first batch of the Koenwitzian Gew-41 was sent to the Army. The replacement proved popular, but with the increasing rise of the assault rifle abroad, many Army chiefs felt that this was not an effective replacement. Following the successful implementation of the SG-1 Assault Rifle in 1968, production on the Gew-41 ceased completely, but over 20,000 weapons had been shipped in the interim. Some of these were modified, along with old Gew-1890, for sniper usage during the Great Patriotic War. Others were issued to the Koenwitz-Leibstandarte-Regiment, and are still used by this elite regiment today. The Gew-41 is also given to new recruits as a display weapon. Additionally, 6,000 of the special Gew-41(S) have been manufactured since 1993 as a specialist sniper rifle.

THE Gew-60 Battle Rifle

VITAL STATISTICS

  • Calibre: 7.62mm
  • Rate of Fire: 150 rounds per minute
  • Magazine Capacity: 25 rounds
  • Effective Range: 700m

The Army’s dissatisfaction with the Gew-41 caused much consternation in Spreelow after the effort expanded on the programme. Several members of the weapons development team resigned their posts, and this created disarray in the department. However, the day was saved by Colonel Fritz Haltz, then chief quartermaster, who returned from a trip to Belgium in 1960 with an example of the FN-FAL automatic rifle that had been adopted by many European nations. The design was seized upon the reorganised weapons design department. They altered the firing mechanism and enhanced the overall material quality of the weapon, including an expansion of the magazine capacity. In 1961 the first Gew-60 was issued to the Army, and the response to it was generally favourable. 30,000 Gew-60’s were produced up until 1971, when they were superseded by the SG-1, which was regarded as superior by the Army. Most of the Gew-60’s were issued to the Jäger and Airborne divisions, and were used to great effect by them during the war. Today, the Gew-60 continues to be used by some Jäger Regiments, and is also used as the Army’s standard training rifle. An additional 10,000 rifles were produced in 1996, and Spreelow is maintaining the Gew-60 workshop for possible foreign exportation of the weapon.

The airborne formations were issued with a special version of the Gew-60, the FJG-60, which came with a folding stock and a 30-round magazine. 18,000 of these weapons were produced between 1961 and 1971.

The SG-1 Assault Rifle

VITAL STATISTICS

  • Calibre: 5.56mm
  • Rate of Fire: 300 rounds per minute
  • Magazine Capacity: Takes 20 & 30 round magazines
  • Effective Range: 600m

In 1966, Spreelow received a batch of M-16A1 assault rifles for testing. The weapon, although not as reliable as the Gew-60, intrigued the weapons development team, and in 1967 they purchased the manufacturing rights. The Spreelow team improved the weapon’s firing mechanism and gas operation considerably, and in 1968 the new SG-1, the Koenwitian M-16, was issued to the troops. The Army response was overwhelming. This was the rifle they were looking for. Production stepped up in 1968 and by the end of the decade 25,000 SG-1’s had been produced – by the outbreak of war 190,000 SG-1’s were available.

The SG-1 was the standard issue rifle of the Royal Army, and remains so today. After the war it was modified slightly to accept a new 30-round cartridge. Similarly, the SG-1A assault carbine (see below) was also created after the war to replace the MP-49 and FJG-60. Plans are being made to replace the rifle, but it remains so effective that many in the Army are unwilling to change it. Over 500,000 varying types of SG-1 have been produced to date.

The MP-49 Submachine Gun

VITAL STATISTICS

  • Calibre: 9mm
  • Rate of Fire: 500 rounds per minute
  • Magazine Capacity: 30 rounds
  • Effective Range: 200m

In 1962 it was decided that a weapon was needed for armoured crew and for non-essential soldiers that was not as bulky or cumbersome as the existing Gew-60. The Spreelow works hence commenced work on a submachinegun that was similar in design to the MAT-49 submachine gun. The weapon was rechambered to fire 9mm rounds and was much smaller than the original design. However, it proved to be easy to use, rugged and deadly at close quarters, and the first batch instantly became popular with armoured crews, airborne troops and later with helicopter pilots. By the outbreak of war 75,000 MP-49s had been produced, but many of these weapons fell into the hands of the Republicans, and the MP-49 became forever associated with Republican insurgents.

In 1993 it was decided that the MP-49 was getting to old for continued usage, and so a special version shortened-stock carbine version of the SG-1, the SG-1A, was commissioned to replace it. However, by the time MP-49 production ceased in 1994, over 150,000 weapons had been produced and are still in the country - at least 10,000 are known to still be in use with Jäger and Airborne troops and helicopter pilots. Over 150,000 of the MP-49’s replacement, the SG-1A assault carbine, have been produced since 1993.

The MG-60 General Purpose Machine Gun

VITAL STATISTICS

  • Calibre: 7.62mm
  • Rate of Fire: 600 rounds per minute
  • Magazine Capacity: Takes 50 round belts or 50-round box magazines
  • Effective Range: 300m

In the 1950s the Army was crying out for an effective infantry support weapon. By and large the infantry squad was still based around rifleman, with those units that were lucky being issued with a weapon from the imported batch of 10,000 M1919A1 .30-calibre machine guns. Although work on what was to become the MG-64 (see below) had commenced, Crown-Prince Reinhardt was growing restless. In 1961, on his orders, Spreelow began working on a machinegun that turned out to be remarkable similar in shape and design to the M-60 GPMG. In quality, however, the MG-60 was lacking. The first batch, issued in late 1962, were prone to jam at awkward moments; the barrels overheated rapidly, and the recoil was overwhelming. Nonetheless, by 1963, 24,000 MG-60s had been produced.

With the successful implementation of the superior MG-64 GPMG the following year, however, the MG-60 was mostly relegated to training battalions or non-essential defensive positions. Work continued on producing a version that could be used as a coaxial armament for the new Pz-48 medium tanks, and the first MG-60PZ was fitted in 1964. This weapon had an improved firing mechanism that, while still prone to jamming, failed with much less frequency than the infantry version.

During the war the MG-60 was pressed into service by infantry of both sides, though it was more prevalent among the Republican troops. After the war remaining MG-60s were deactivated. 57,000 MG-60 and 12,000 MG-60PZ were produced between 1962 and 1986.

The MG-64 General Purpose Machine Gun

VITAL STATISTICS

  • Calibre: 7.92mm
  • Rate of Fire: 1,200 rounds per minute
  • Magazine Capacity: Takes 100 round belts or 50-round box magazines
  • Effective Range: 600m

The MG-64 is based upon the exceptional MG-42 general-purpose machine-gun. While NATO forces refitted the gun to fire their standard 7.62mm calibre machine-gun rounds, Spreelow kept the MG-42’s original 7.92mm calibre so as to ensure no loss in the rate of fire. After two years work, the first batch of MG-64 were issued in 1964. They proved instantly popular with the Army, dissatisfied with the poor-quality MG-60. The MG-64 has been in constant production ever since, and it is estimated that almost 600,000 weapons have been built, equipping every support section in Infantry, Jäger, Motorised and Mechanized divisions, and also being put to use as support weapons on armoured vehicles.

The MG-70 Heavy Machine Gun

VITAL STATISTICS

  • Calibre: .5-inch
  • Rate of Fire: 300 rounds per minute
  • Magazine Capacity: Takes 50-round box magazines
  • Effective Range: 500m

The MG-70, a design similar to the .50-calibre machine gun, was never actually shipped to the troops until 1999. Work had begun on the weapon in 1970, but budgetary deficits and the increasing unrest in the country had put the project further and further behind. The MG-70 was the product of the Army’s desire for a replacement for the MG-60PZ coaxial machine gun, which caused them problems throughout its service life. Work had not been completed by the outbreak of war, and it was not until 1997 when it recommenced. The gun was eventually completed in 1998 and fitted on the first Cougar MBT (see below). It is designed purely as a coaxial weapon and so far only 600 MG-70 have been produced. The weapon remains to be battle-tested.

The MG-95 Light Automatic Weapon

VITAL STATISTICS

  • Calibre: 7.62mm
  • Rate of Fire: 800 rounds per minute
  • Magazine Capacity: Takes 100 round box magazines
  • Effective Range: 400m

In 1995 the Infanteriewaffe asked Spreelow to produce a “Light Automatic Weapon”, similar to M249 SAW that was proving so effective abroad. Machine guns had always been relegated to a support role, and the Army wanted to supplement this by equipping each squad with Automatik-Schütze or Automatic Rifleman, who could provide the firepower of a machine-gun but be able to move and engage like a regular infantryman. A year later Spreelow responded to the Infanteriewaffe’s request with the MG-95 LAW which was instantly adopted by the Infantry. During the Eastern Insurgency in 1999 the weapon proved to be utterly devastating, particularly when used in close-quarters battle. To date 56,000 MG-95 have been produced.

The SHG-1925/1925A Handgrenade

VITAL STATISTICS

  • Type of Explosive: Fragmentation
  • Effective Range: 200-400m
  • Blast Radius: 200m

In 1924 Spreelow commenced work on a hand-grenade for the new Royal Army, and the SHG-1925 was the result. The original version was made out of wood, with a simple fuse mechanism that splintered the wooden “top” of the grenade, which was shaped roughly like that of the “Potato Masher” grenade. The sharp wooden splinters were designed to lacerate the enemy and incapacitate him, though more often than not it was more likely to do this to the thrower rather than the target! Nonetheless, until a suitable replacement could be built, 200,000 wooden SHG-1925 were produced. In 1950 however, after the notorious “Liefel” incident where the Crown-Prince was nearly killed by a misfiring SHG-1925 whilst watching an Army wargame, Spreelow updated the design by making it all metal, and filling the top of the grenade with a fragmentation charge. The resulting SHG-1925A proved to be much more effective and, most importantly, safer for the thrower! It was fitted with a five-second fuse that was activated by pulling the trigger pin at the base of the “stick”. Because the fragmentation charge was much larger than that of the typical stick-type grenade, the explosion it caused spread shrapnel over a particularly large area, making it utterly deadly when used in confined spaces, as it was frequently during the war. The stick shape also enabled it to travel much further than a conventional round, or pineapple shaped grenade.

Versions of the SHG-1925A were produced that were used as smoke grenades and booby-traps – Jäger troops were particularly fond of setting up tripwires attached to the grenade. Prior to the war almost 1 million SHG-1925A were available to the Army, and since 1991 a further 1,650,000 have been produced.

The PZHLDWG-1970 Anti-Tank Grenade

VITAL STATISTICS

  • Type of Explosive: Shaped-Charge
  • Effective Range: 0m
  • Penetration: Can penetrate up to 150mm of armour plate.

In 1970 the Army was desperate for an infantry anti-armour weapon. Spreelow were working on the Faust-77 (see below), but as a stopgap modified the SHG-1925 and produced the Panzerhohladungwaffe-Granate-1970, or anti-tank shaped charge grenade. This consisted of a metal tube that contained the fuse and explosive, and a large container on the top that resembled an inverted triangle, inside of which was a triangular-shaped shaped charge anti-tank explosive.

The infantryman using the PZHLDWG-1970 was supposed to rush up to a tank, place the grenade on its hull, and then pull the trigger pin at the tip of the metal tube. This activated a ten-second fuse. When the fuse ignited, it set off the explosive inside the tube, the force of which caused the shaped charge to burst forward and, hopefully, into the enemy tank. However, the weapon was unpopular because it was so dangerous to use. Very often it failed to ignite, or ignited too soon, so that soldiers who pulled the pin were instantly blown apart. Sometimes the grenade would explode but merely send shrapnel in all directions, not penetrating the tank’s armour. However, the weapon did prove its worth when used by Republican forces, which destroyed an estimated 300 Pz-48s with the weapon. Prior to the war 398,000 anti-tank grenades were produced, but production ceased after the war as the weapon was regarded as too dangerous, the Faust-77 being safer and more effective.

The Faust-77 Anti-Tank Rocket

VITAL STATISTICS

  • Calibre: 90mm
  • Rate of Fire: Single-shot disposable anti-tank rocket
  • Magazine Capacity: A single 90mm projectile
  • Effective Range: 100m

The Faust 77 is a strange hybrid of a launcher that resembles the LAW66 and the projectile from the Panzerfaust. The shaped charge rocket fired by the Faust 77 is capable of penetrating up to 250mm of armour plate at its closest range (40m) and 160mm of armour plate at longest range. It was used extensively by both sides in the Great Patriotic War, as by 1986 over 200,000 had been produced. A further 900,000 have been manufactured since the end of the war and are the Army’s main infantry anti-armour weapon.

The Panzerbüsche-69 Recoilless Rifle

VITAL STATISTICS

  • Calibre: 90mm
  • Rate of Fire: Two rounds a minute
  • Magazine Capacity: N/A
  • Effective Range: 900m

The PZB-69 was developed originally to provide the KFZ-113 Armoured Personnel Carriers with an anti-armour ability (see below), but an unmounted, shoulder-fired version of the weapon was developed for the Infantry and Motorised troops in 1972. The PzB was used by both sides in the Great Patriotic War, but particularly by the Royal Army, and very often was employed as an anti-infantry weapon firing shrapnel-tipped rockets during ambushes. 79,000 had been built prior to the outbreak of war, and a further 120,000 have been built since.

The Granatenwerfer 60 Mortar

VITAL STATISTICS

  • Calibre: 60mm
  • Rate of Fire: Ten rounds per minute
  • Magazine Capacity: N/A
  • Effective Range: 1,500m

The Granatenwerfer 60 is a rather rough and ready mortar weapon – the test version was made out of old steel piping – but it proved its worth during the war. Work commenced in 1958 on producing the GW-60, the Army’s first mortar, and the initial batch was delivered in 1961. Although crude in design and cumbersome to deploy, the mortar’s long tube gives it exceptional range and it can fire a wide range of projectiles – large splinter, short splinter, gas, smoke and high explosive. 140,000 had been produced by the outbreak of war and were used primarily by the Republican forces, which had not gained control of any major artillery assets. After the war the GW-60 continued to be used and a further 290,000 were manufactured. The weapon is now coming to the end of its life cycle and is due to be replaced, but remains a major part of the infantry support platoon.

The Stürmmorser (Grantenwerfer 70) Mult-Barreled Mortar

VITAL STATISTICS

  • Calibre: 60mm
  • Rate of Fire: Ten rounds per minute
  • Magazine Capacity: N/A
  • Effective Range: 1,500m

The Stürmmorser is a curious weapon, based upon the design of the Nebelwerfer rocket mortar. Unlike the Nebelwerfer, the Stürmmorser fires standard mortar projectiles which are triggered by a hammer plate in each of the weapon’s ten mortar tubes.

The limitations of the weapon come in its long reload time, for the hammer plates have to be recocked after each shot and every tube muzzle loaded like a standard mortar. However, the effect of a Stürmmorser barrage can be devastating, particularly when used against buildings, and the number of projectiles proved an effective psychological weapon when used against poorly motivated troops. 9,000 Stürmmorser had been produced by the outbreak of war and were used exclusively by the Royal Army. Today 4,000 Stürmmorsers remain in service, mainly with Jäger troops.

Armoured Vehicles

Kubelwagen T-69 All-Terrain Vehicle

VITAL STATISTICS

  • Armour: 15mm
  • Armament: One rear-mounted MG-64 machine gun.
  • Crew: One driver & one gunner, with space for four soldiers.
  • Weight: 3 tonnes.
  • Range: 300 miles

The T-69 was, as the name suggests, first issued to the Army in 1969. It is essentially an armoured Land-Rover, built to replace the Army’s ageing fleet of Jeeps. The T-69 was issued to every Army unit, and proved particularly adept during the war when used as a raiding vehicle by Jäger and Motorised Infantry troops. The Jäger are equipped with a lighter version of the vehicle, the 1.5 tonne TJ-69, which has only 2mm of armour plate. Over 45,000 T-69 and 15,000 TJ-69 were built before the war, and a further 50,000 vehicles have been completed since. It remains the Army’s main all-terrain scouting vehicle.

KV-59 "Uhu" Utility Truck

VITAL STATISTICS

  • Armour: 8mm
  • Armament: One cab-mounted MG-64 machine gun.
  • Crew: One driver & one gunner, with space for twenty soldiers or one tonne of cargo.
  • Weight: 5 tonnes.
  • Range: 250 miles

The KV-159 is the Army’s main supply vehicle, used since 1959 by logistics units and by Motorised Infantry Regiments as their main mode of transport. It is only lightly armoured but capable of effective all-terrain movement. The large area at the rear of the truck offers plentiful space for cargo or a platoon of infantrymen. In the war the KV-159 was let down by its slow speed and was easily penetrated by tank rounds and anti-tank rockets, but nonetheless was popular because of its reliability. To date 90,000 “Uhu” have been produced.

KFZ-113 Armoured Personnel Carrier

VITAL STATISTICS

  • Armour: 80mm
  • Armament: Crew-served MG-64 machine gun/crew-served PZB-69 90mm recoilless rifle.
  • Crew: 2 main crew, space for a squad of 8 soldiers
  • Weight: 35 tonnes
  • Range: 200 miles

In 1967, the Army asked Spreelow for a vehicle for its Panzergrenadier Regiments, as the Panzerwaffe HQ felt that the KV-159 trucks they were currently using would leave them dangerously exposed during a massed armoured charge. In 1968 Spreelow purchased the manufacturing rights for the American M113 APC and sent the first KFZ-113 to the Army in June of that year. The vehicle was exactly what the Panzerwaffe wanted, but one general complained that it lacked anti-armour weaponry. Consequently, Spreelow developed the PZB-69 recoilless rifle (see above) which could be fitted on the existing MG-64 mount. Prior to the war 22,000 KFZ-113 were built, and a further 32,000 have been built since. Production is due to cease at the end of 2007 to make way for the new fleet of KFZ-115 “Teufel” (see below).

KFZ-115 "Teufel" Armoured Fighting Vehicle

VITAL STATISTICS

  • Armour: CLASSIFIED
  • Armament: One Spreemetall K-95 20mm cannon, two crew-served MG-64 machineguns
  • Crew: 4 crew, space for a platoon of 20 soldiers
  • Weight: 40 tonnes
  • Range: 190 miles

In 1999, the Army asked the Spreelow works to manufacture a vehicle to replace its aging fleet of KFZ-113. In 2001, Spreelow responded the “Teufel”, which is similar in appearance to the Warrior AFV. Fitted with the same armour as the Cougar MBT, during testing the “Teufel” proved impervious to known types of anti-tank weapon, meaning that infantry troops within could be kept perfectly safe. If the tracks are disabled the vehicle has eight emergency tyres which are kept in bays next to the tracks. These can be lowered to allow the vehicle to withdraw safely from the battlefield. Although a complex machine, the “Teufel” was well-received by the Army, and 12,000 have been built to date.

KAMPFPANZER-48 Medium Tank

VITAL STATISTICS

  • Armour: 100mm on hull, 105mm at thickest point on turret.
  • Armament: Spreemetall K-50 90mm gun & coaxial MG-60*
  • Crew: 4
  • Weight: 40 tonnes

Range: 140 miles

The Pz-48 was, and still is, the most numerous tank in the Koenwitz Panzerwaffe. Based upon the M-48 tank, the first vehicles were produced in the in the summer of 1961, receiving considerable praise from armoured crews. A massive new wing of the Spreelow works was designed purely for the manufacture of these vehicles, and at its peak was producing five a day. By 1965 there were 8,000 Pz-48’s in Koenwitz – by the outbreak of the Great War there were 30,000. Production, though greatly reduced, still continues to this day, and there are currently 15,000 Pz-48’s still in service, providing the backbone of the Panzerwaffe.

  • The first versions of the Pz-48 shipped without any form of coaxial armament until the development of the MG-60PZ

KAMPFPANZER-60 Medium Tank

VITAL STATISTICS

  • Armour: 120mm on hull and turret.
  • Armament: Spreemetall K-60 110mm gun & coaxial MG-60
  • Crew: 4
  • Weight: 46 tonnes
  • Range: 135 miles

Like its sibling, the Pz-48, the Pz-60 is based upon a foreign design, this time the M60A1 “Super Patton” tank. Rights to produce a version of this vehicle were purchased in 1967, following the completion of the much delayed K-60 110mm gun. Although the Pz-60 vehicle itself proved to be exceptionally reliable, the gun caused many headaches for armoured crews, headaches that had not been resolved by the outbreak of the war. The gun jammed frequently, and most dangerously, was prone to explode after sustained firing – something that happened with alarming frequency during the war. After 1991 remaining Pz-60’s were rearmed with the old and extremely reliable K-50 90mm gun. Around 14,000 Pz-60’s were produced and the Army currently has 1,900 vehicles with the 90mm gun in service.

KAMPFPANZER-VIII/VIIIA “Kaiser Tiger" Heavy Tank

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The first production model of the PZ-VIII "Kaiser Tiger"
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VITAL STATISTICS

  • Armour: 140mm on hull and turret.
  • Armament: Either a Spreemetall K-50 90mm gun or a Spreemetall K-76 120mm gun, coaxial MG-60 and pintle-mounted MG-64 on commander’s turret (Pz-VIIIA only)
  • Crew: 5
  • Weight: 65 tonnes
  • Range: 100 miles

The history of the “Kaiser Tiger” is an interesting one. In 1948 the Royal Army purchased the hulk of a Panzerkampfwagen-VIB “King Tiger” tank, one of the most powerful armoured vehicles of the Second World War. At this time the Army was looking for machines with which to strengthen the Panzerwaffe, which then numbered only a battalion of Panzer II light tanks and Sherman M4 mediums. After a very long development process, in 1951 the first “Kaiser Tiger” rolled off the production line. It retained many of the characteristics of the “King Tiger” but the turret was reshaped to accommodate the K-50 90mm gun. However, it took an extremely long time to manufacture the Kaiser Tigers and by the time the first Pz-48’s were built in 1961, only 600 Pz-VIII had been produced. A further 400 were built before production ceased in 1976, but that same year engineers at Spreelow fitted the experimental K-76 120mm rifled gun to the tank.

The K-76 had been developed for the Pz-60 but proved too difficult to mount effectively. After considerable effort, in 1977 the first Pz-VIIIA was shown to the Army, mounted with this new weapon and with its armour strengthened to 160mm. The Army ordered 60 machines for the 501st Heavy Tank Battalion (see above). Overall 100 Pz-VIIIA were manufactured before production ceased upon the outbreak of war in 1986. After the war an additional 60 machines were built to re-equip the 501st, but production ceased altogether in 1997.

Cougar Main Battle Tank

VITAL STATISTICS

  • Armour: CLASSIFIED
  • Armament: Spreemetall K-97 125mm smoothbore gun, two coaxial MG70 and two pintle-mounted MG-64
  • Crew: 5
  • Weight: 69 tonnes
  • Range: 120 miles

In 1995, discussions in the Panzerwaffe’s tactical headquarters were centred around finding a replacement for the force’s aging fleet of vehicles. The armoured chiefs wanted a true Main Battle Tank, but purchasing production rights for the leading NATO machines – the Abrams, Leopard 2, Challenger 2 and Leclerc – was simply going to be too expensive. However, in 1996, Spreelow acquired a platoon of Leopard 1 vehicles and the production rights. The Leopard 1 underwent significant modifications in Spreelow – and in common with most MBT’s was fitted with a special type of reactive armour, similar to the famous CHOBAM armour. The vehicle was to be fitted with a rechambered K-60 110mm gun, but in 1997 Spreelow completed work on the gun’s replacement, the new K-97 125mm smoothbore cannon. This had an effective range of over two miles and was incredibly accurate. The first of the new Cougar battle tanks, equipped with the K-97, began rolling off the production line in 1998, and have been in production ever since. Currently there are 500 such vehicles in service.

Aircraft

The KV F-1 Fighter/Bomber

VITAL STATISTICS

  • Crew: 1
  • Armament: One LMG-70 six-barrelled cannon, mounts for twelve F-72 high explosive missiles or eight 300-lb bombs.
  • Maximum Ceiling: 41,000ft
  • Engine(s): One Spreelowsturm 25900 Turbojet
  • Top Speed: 1,100 mph.
  • Endurance: 900 miles (1,500 miles with drop tanks, though this costs four missiles)

The KV F-1 was first built at Spreelow in 1968 to help equip the new Army Air Corps, and was based upon the F-4 Phantom fighter. Development took two years, and was blighted by accidents. The first test aircraft exploded as it was leaving the runway, killing the pilot. During altitude testing of the third test aircraft the canopy disintegrated, decompressing the aircraft and forcing into a steep dive from which the pilot had a very narrow escape. Despite this, Spreelow persevered, and in 1970 the F-1 was ready for combat. It is still a very tetchy aircraft – pilots have to learn how to coax it in doing what they want it to do, but otherwise in its limited combat service it has proved very effective. 300 have been built to date.

The KV-116 Bomber

VITAL STATISTICS

  • Crew: 8 (two pilots, five gunners, navigator/radio operator and bombardier)
  • Armament: Five gun turrets (one underneath the cockpit, one dorsal turret, one rear turret and two side turrets), space for up to 1,200-lbs of bombs
  • Maximum Ceiling: 25,000ft
  • Engine(s): Four Spreelowsturm PS-400 six-bladed propeller engines
  • Top Speed: 600mph
  • Endurance: 1,600 miles

Work on what was to become the KV-116 began at Spreelow as early as 1950, but the priority for ground-based materiel meant that the project never received enough money or attention, and was to all intents and purposes shelved in 1969. However, when the Crown-Prince demanded bomber aircraft in 1984, the KV-116 team were suddenly reactivated and told to get the aircraft completed in just six months. Naturally, this meant that the eventual production model was not of the highest quality.

Based on the He-177 “Greif” bomber, the propeller-driven KV-116 was, with the exception of having four engines rather than two, almost identical to the original – both in design and in technical problems. The engines were prone to catch fire, and if the aircraft were even slightly overloaded it would not leave the runway. Indeed, it is so sensitive to the weight, that in order to take off it usually flies with just two gunners. The pilots had to expend an enormous amount of effort to get it into the air, but once they got it up the KV-116 generally flew well. None of these problems had been solved by the development team before the war, and while the aircraft worked to a reasonable degree during the conflict, it was seldom used. Since the war it undergone continual modification and is now probably as good as it ever will be. There are rumours that it is being converted to carry nuclear weapons, but these remain unconfirmed by the Air Corps. 400 have been built to date.

The KV UH-1D Utility Helicopter

VITAL STATISTICS

  • Crew: 4 for standard UH-1D (two pilots, two door gunners) or 2 (pilot/gunner) for UH-1D weapons platform.
  • Armament: Two door mounted MG-64 machine guns (standard UH-1D)/two side mounted LMG-70 six-barrelled cannon and NBS-400 rocket pods with fifty 40mm high-explosive rockets (UH-1D weapons platform)
  • Maximum Ceiling: 2,000ft
  • Engine(s): One Spreelowsturm HS-900 helicopter engine
  • Top Speed: 400mph
  • Endurance: 600 miles

In 1970 the Infanteriewaffe, impressed after seeing a documentary on heliborne warfare, asked Spreelow to commence work on a helicopter that could support its operations. In the event, Spreelow ultimately produced three types of helicopter for the Army, but the first off the production line in 1973 was the UH-1D multipurpose helicopter. Identical in design to the famed “Huey”, the helicopter massively enhanced the Infantry’s mobility and was especially favoured by Infantry and Jäger troops. In order to provide them with an aerial weapons platform to supplement the expensive AH-1D (see below), Spreelow also manufactured a version of the UH-1D that was equipped with cannons and rocket pods.

The standard KV UH-1D can carry up to ten infantrymen, or four stretchers when used in the medical evacuation role. Over 4,000 have been produced since 1973, and were used exclusively by the Royal Army during the war until it switched sides in 1990 (an additional 2,000 UH-1D weapons platforms have also been built since 1973). In 2008 the current fleet of UH-1Ds are due to be replaced by the larger UH-1F, which is still in development.

The KV OH-1D/OH-1P Observation/Passenger Helicopter

VITAL STATISTICS

  • Crew: 2 in OH-1D (pilot/observer), 4 in OH-1P (pilot/observer and two passengers)
  • Armament: None.
  • Maximum Ceiling: 2,000ft
  • Engine(s): One Spreelowsturm HS-905 (modified HS-900) helicopter engine
  • Top Speed: 650mph
  • Endurance: 700 miles

During a wargame in 1981 the KV UH-1D was utilised in support of artillery regiments to spot distant targets, something that had never before been attempted in Koenwitzian Military History. Impressed, the Artillery Corps asked Spreelow to produce a specialised version of the UH-1D that could be used for aerial observation and target acquisition. For two years Spreelow experimented with the UH-1D, modifying it considerably, but in 1983 it purchased a single OH-1 “Loach” observation helicopter.

During testing that month, it was found that the large canopy afforded excellent views over the battlefield, precisely what the Artillery wanted, and so during the rest of 1983 Spreelow worked on producing an indigenous version of the “Loach”. The vehicle that finally appeared in late 1985 was similar, but with far more equipment for the airborne observer, including a specialised spotting telescope and radio. The KV OH-1D was also exceptionally fast for a helicopter, so that if spotted it would be able to get out trouble in hurry. 600 KV OH-1 have been produced since 1985 and were used exclusively by the Royal Army.

In 1994, Spreelow started work on a specialised passenger version of the OH-1 that could be used for fast V.I.P transport. The OH-1P was completed two years later and 200 have been built since, used by the Army officers who work in governmental positions. Future KV OH-1P are also to be used abroad for Ambassadorial transport at Koenwitzian Embassies.

The KV AH-1D Attack Helicopter

VITAL STATISTICS

  • Crew: 2 (pilot/gunner)
  • Armament: One LMG-70 six-barrelled cannon mounted underneath the cockpit, two side-mounted NBS-400 rocket pods with fifty 40mm high-explosive rockets, two side-mounted PZS-5 anti-tank missiles
  • Maximum Ceiling: 1,500ft
  • Engine(S) One Spreelowsturm HS-700 attack engine
  • Top Speed: 500mph
  • Endurance: 700 miles

The AH-1D was born in 1970 along with the UH-1, although the first test model was not completed until 1978 and full production did not begin until 1980. Based upon the AH-1 “Cobra”, the AH-1D was a highly effective helicopter but one that was extremely costly to produce due to the high-quality avionic and targeting systems that made it so deadly. By the outbreak of war there were barely enough AH-1’s available to fill the Air Corps’ first Aviation Assault Regiment. After the war production continued at the same rate, much to the annoyance of the Air Corps chiefs, but the quality of the vehicle was such that the aircrew were prepared to wait. To date, only 500 AH-1D have been produced.

The PZS (Panzerschreck) anti-tank missiles that are carried by the AH-1D have a maximum effective range of 2,000 metres and can penetrate up to 190mm of armour plate. During post-war tests they were also able to penetrate the high-quality armour of the new Cougar MBT, though only at close range.

The KV CH-1 Cargo Helicopter

VITAL STATISTICS

  • Crew: 2
  • Armament: None
  • Maximum Ceiling: 1,000ft
  • Engine(s): Two Spreelowsturm HS-1000 heavy helicopter engines
  • Top Speed: 200mph
  • Endurance: 400 miles
  • Cargo Capacity: Can carry up to three tonnes of equipment

In 1977 the Chief of the Jäger Troops, Colonel-General Eberhardt Langweilig, visited the Spreelow works and asked the director if it would possible for the plant to produce a heavy lift helicopter that could carry large materiel, such as jeeps or artillery pieces, to Jäger troops operating in isolated areas. Up to this point there was no way of supplying such materiel by air, which was a considerable drawback for light infantry troops like the Jäger who operated in areas where supply by road was often impossible.

In 1979, Spreelow responded to General Langweilig’s request with the CH-1, which instantly became nicknamed “The Flying Crane” because of its unusual shape. There is a bulbous cockpit at the front which is attached to the long, thin fuselage. Despite this diminutive appearance, the CH-1’s two powerful rotors and tough steel construction enable it to lift both T-69’s and SIGK-2 howitzers, precisely what the Jäger wanted. It was used in this role throughout the war, supplying the forces fighting in the valleys and mountains of Southern Koenwitz, and continues to offer supply services for the lighter infantry formations (including Airborne). Currently 400 CH-1 have been produced.

The KV-52 Transport Aircraft

VITAL STATISTICS

  • Crew: 3 (two pilots, one jumpmaster/gunner)
  • Armament: One crew-served MG-64 fitted in dorsal mount
  • Maximum Ceiling: 16,000ft
  • Engine(s): Three Spreelowsturm PS-400 six-bladed propeller engines
  • Top Speed: 400 mph
  • Endurance: 2,000 miles
  • Cargo Capacity: Can carry up to four tonnes of equipment

When Crown-Prince Reinhardt asked the Army to raise an Airborne division for him, there was a significant problem – there were no aircraft to drop the paratroopers. Spreelow came up with a supposedly temporary solution – the KV-52. Based upon the 3 Ju-52 passenger planes used by Koenwitz Airlines, the KV-52 was designed for maximum ease of production, and 100 were ready by the time the 1st Airborne Division began its jump training in 1974.

The KV-52 can carry either thirty paratroopers or four tonnes of supplies, and was used in this latter role to keep the 1st Airborne alive when it was surrounded by rebel forces near Harabszk in 1987, who were shooting down the low-flying helicopters that were attempting to do the job. The KV-52 is a particularly reliable plane that is both rugged and reliable. One aircraft returned to Theodorplatz after supplying 1st Airborne with one engine knocked out, a second engine severely damaged and with over 2,000 bullet holes in the fuselage! Its reliability was the main reason why it was maintained by the Army Air Corps before, during and after the war, and to date 500 have been produced.

The KV-80 Cargo Aircraft

VITAL STATISTICS

  • Crew: 4
  • Armament: None
  • Maximum Ceiling: 20,000ft
  • Engine(s): Eight Spreelowsturm PS-400 six-bladed propeller engines
  • Top Speed: 500mph
  • Endurance: 600 miles (can be fitted with two wing mounted drop pods which extend this to 1,000 miles, and is capable of air-to-air refuelling)
  • Cargo Capacity: Can carry up to ten tonnes of equipment

After the war, the Air Corps began investigating the possibilities for foreign military expeditions and armaments supply. The key problem in their planning was that the KV-52 could not carry enough troops, and could not transport any heavy equipment (i.e. tanks) whatsoever. In 2000 the Air Corps instructed Spreelow to work on a heavy transport aircraft to solve this problem.

Spreelow eventually produced the KV-80 in 2005 after a difficult development process which had seen the original model, the KV-70, temporarily shelved following the destruction of every test aircraft on the first flight. The aircraft is intended as a stopgap solution to the foreign supply problem and can only carry a single company of men or T-69’s. Only fifty KV-80 have been produced so far, though production is due to be stepped up as Koenwitz starts to make more foreign exports.

The DFS-400 Infantry Glider

VITAL STATISTICS

  • Crew: 2 pilots, room for 10 infantry
  • Armament: None
  • Maximum Ceiling: 16,000ft (when towed by KV-52)
  • Engine(s): None
  • Top Speed: 600mph
  • Endurance (after tow rope is detached): 100 miles

The DFS-400 was developed with some subterfuge at Spreelow in 2001, during one of the worst moments of inter-service bitterness between the Infanteriewaffe and the Air Corps.

The Airborne troops wanted a vehicle that they could use independently of the Air Corps, and so Spreelow responded to their request with the plywood-construction DFS-400. Glider operations are inherently dangerous, and Field-Marshal Kaen was particularly annoyed at the Airborne’s request for this vehicle. However, Spreelow built 500 DFS-400 before the Field-Marshal ordered production to cease in 2005. During Airborne testing several of the gliders crashed with fatal results for the passengers and crew, so the existing vehicles were strengthened with steel reinforcing rods to stop the glider coming apart on a rough landing. It is still unpopular with the troops of the 5th Glider Regiment, who regard the DFS-400 as “flying coffins”, but the 1st Airborne’s commander is maintaining the force “because you never know what will come.”

Artillery Weapons

FLAK 55 Dual-Purpose Anti-Tank/Anti-Aircraft Gun

VITAL STATISTICS

  • Calibre: 90mm
  • Rate of Fire: 3 rounds per minute
  • Ceiling (FLAK Role): 29,000ft
  • Range (PAK Role): 2,100m
  • Armour Penetration (PAK Role): 140mm of armour plate at maximum range, up to 300mm of armour plate at close range.

Although anti-tank guns are now outdated and not in service in most armies, the PaK55 has been maintained by the Army mostly for the Police units, who receive very little in the way of anti-armour weaponry. The PaK55 was developed along the lines of the old German 88mm, and has a similar 3-jacket barrel design and flat trajectory. During the war it was used to great effect by forces of both sides in both anti-air and anti-armour roles and was both liked and feared. 7,000 had been produced by the outbreak of war and a further 5,000 have been built since 1991.

FLAK 99 “Achtling” Anti-Aircraft Gun

VITAL STATISTICS

  • Calibre: 90mm
  • Rate of Fire: 24 rounds per minute
  • Ceiling: 24,000-31,000ft

The FlaK 99 was designed to supplement the ageing fleet of FlaK 55 single-barrelled anti-aircraft pieces. Because the Army lacked any specialised Surface-to-Air capability, it was decided that the best solution for air-defence was to modify the FlaK 55 and increase its firepower. The Spreelow works designed a gun that had eight Flak 55 barrels mounted in two racks of four, and the tests proved that the gun could be effective. However, the 100 FlaK99 that have been produced since 2001 have yet to be tested under combat conditions. Theoretically the gun could also be used in an anti-armour role.

SIGK-2 Howitzer

VITAL STATISTICS

  • Calibre: 105mm
  • Rate of Fire: 5 rounds per minute

The SIGK-2 (Schwere Infanterie Geschutz Kanone-2) artillery piece is a copy of the M-2 105mm howitzer. The rights to manufacture it were purchased in 1955, after Crown-PrinceReinhardt read an army report on the artillery arm that revealed the troops were still using muzzle-loading cannons! Currently 90,000 guns have been produced for the artillery regiments of Infantry, Jäger and Airborne divisions and the two independent artillery brigades.

Sturmhaubitze K-10 Mobile Artillery Piece

VITAL STATISTICS

  • Calibre: 105mm
  • Rate of Fire: 5 rounds per minute

The K-10 is based upon the M10 self-propelled howitzer. The design, purchased in 1960, enabled the new armoured divisions to have their own artillery arm that could keep up with their Blitzkrieg doctrine. The K-10 has a range of 100 miles, can carry thirty rounds of onboard ammunition, and has a crew of four. 60,000 vehicles of this type have been produced and continue to be used by the Mechanized Artillery Regiments of the Motorised, Mechanized and Armoured Divisions.

Küstekanone KK-1930 Coastal Artillery Piece

VITAL STATISTICS

  • Calibre: 210mm
  • Rate of Fire: 2 rounds per minute

These large coastal defence cannons are based upon two guns that were purchased from Germany in 1930. There are currently thirty KK-1930 fitted in the heavily fortified casemates at Fort Theodor, Fort Eugen and Fort Reinhardt on the Northern Peninsula. These forts cover the approaches to Elzstadt and provide Koenwitz with its coastal defence. The guns have a range of about 25 miles and a crew of 10.

"Kronprinz" BK-1930 Railway Guns

VITAL STATISTICS

  • Calibre: 420mm
  • Rate of Fire: 1 round per minute

These guns are also based upon an example purchased from Germany in 1930. Twenty such weapons were produced by the Spreelow works between 1935 and 1960, and require forty crewmembers to operate effectively. During the war, the guns were initially in the hands of the Royalist forces that used them during the battle of Teufel Gorge in 1986 and during the assault on Elzstadt in July 1987. When Field-Marshal Kaen reneged against the king, the heavy artillery brigade to whom the guns belonged followed suit, and they were used to shell Koenburg during the 1990 siege. The guns continue to be operated and maintained by the two battalions of the 1st Heavy Artillery Brigade, one battalion sited to protect Elzstadt, the other to protect Koenburg. They have a range of 18-24 miles.

Decorations

The Army of Koenwitz has only five decorations, mostly inherited from the Royal Army. In 1940 Crown-Prince Theodor decided that he should reward troops if they performed well in conflict, and instituted four medals – three for acts of bravery, one for wounding. In 1994 the Army of Koenwitz instituted a new medal for veterans of the Great Patriotic War. A description of the medals the conditions for winning them and the numbers issued are listed below.

The War Merit Cross

A white Balkankreutz (basic four-pointed cross) with crossed swords at the centre. Issued to those who have shown considerable bravery and fortitude in the field in the face of the enemy. The lowest level medal, issued to 150,000 soldiers.

The Iron Cross of Koenwitz

A black Balkankreutz with a sword and rifle crossed in the centre. Issued to those who have shown bravery above and beyond the call of duty, placing their own lives at risk in order to save their fellow comrades, or to ensure victory against the enemy. Issued to 60,000 soldiers.

The Knight's Cross of Koenwitz

A six-pointed cross with a sword at each tip and the silhouette of Crown-Prince Eugen Koenwtiz in the centre. Issued to men who have displayed the highest form of bravery, comradeship and devotion to duty on the field of battle, in the face of overwhelming enemy opposition or at severe risk to one’s own life. Winners of the Knight’s Cross number only 700.

The Veteran's Cross

A green Balkankreutz with crossed SG-1’s in the centre. Issued to all soldiers who fought in the Great Patriotic War in organised military units, regardless of which side they fought for. 1,000,000 issued.

The Wound Cross

A red Balkankreutz that resembles the Red Cross symbol. Issued to all soldiers who have received wounds that have incapacitated or severely hampered them. 500,000 issued.

See Also