Panzerproject E-10

The "Entwicklungstypen" (development-types), known as E-Series were set up by the army ordnance office and should have standardized the tank types. Therefor 6 basic types were planned in cooperation with four manufacturers (Büssing, Daimler, Steyr and Weserhütte). Following a short description of the six types:
- Type E-5: Should have been a small, fast tank with a two men crew and a weight of 6-10 tons. Although 18 designs for the E-5 were made, there was no final solution and on 19.3.1945 all plans were declined.
- Type E-10: Will be described detailed.
- Type E-25: Planned as destroyer and reconnaissance-tank. Looking like the "Hetzer" it was developed at Argus and 5 examples were begun to build at Alkett. Armed with the 7.5cm PaK L/70 and a 2cm FlaK in a small turret. The series-production was never begun.
- Type E-50: Should be used as successor of the "Panther" and developed at Weserhütte. Having an engine with 800PS, the vehicle, which weighted about 50.8 tons, should achieve 60km/h speed. The new designed turret, which carries the 8.8cm KwK42 was developed at Krupp.
- Type E-75: Had the same hull as the E-50 but heavier armoured and two more roadwheels each side. Plans were made one at a time by Weserhütte and Adler. Also the E-50 turret should have been used, carrying the 10.5cm KwK L/68
- Type E-100: Developed since June 1943 by Adler and one prototype nearly completed by the end of the war. The weight was about 140 tons, of which the turret, which should carry the 15cm KwK44 L/38, weighted 52 tons. The engine should have been the new Maybach HL295, giving 1050hp.

Of all the types less is known about the E-10 type, mainly because the development was cancelled when the new Jagdpanzer 38(d) got in the state of being technically superior to the E-10.
The main aim of development of the E-types was to enlarge the combat-section of the tanks by replacing the torsionbar-suspension by using the new developed disc-springs and placing all drive components to the engine compartment at the rear.
The E-10 type was developed at Klöckner-Humboldt-Deutz AG at the Magirus-facility in Ulm. Their plans showed an armoured model which was armored at the upper front plate 60mm and 30mm at the lower. Side and rear should get 20mm thick plates.
The vehicle was about 6.55m long, about 2.7m wide and 1.76m high. The ground clearance was 40cm. For better hiding while combat the hull could be lowered mechanically, so that the height was reduced to 1.4m and so a very low silhouette was achieved. Because of that the firing height was reduced to about 85cm. The track width was 40cm. Four overlapping roadwheels each side were used with a diameter of about 1m and the drive sprocket was at the rear end!
The engine should have been the Maybach HL-100 with a piston displacement of 9990 cm3 and power of 400hp. this would give the E-10 a maximum speed of 70kph. For this type of tank the manufacturer J.M.Voith developed a drive on hydrodynamic base. The transmission and steering-gear inclusive cooling-unit were put into the rear as one compact unit and so it saved a lot of space for the fighting compartment.
The E-10 should have been armed with the 7.5cm PaK39 L/48 with a crew of three men.
Unfortunately no more technical data is known (to me) about armament (ammo storage, secondary armament). Also nowhere is said something about fuel storage or the approximate weight, so important data like road-range or the specific ground pressure couldn't be calculated. Also the dimensions of the E-10 are good guesses from drawings I got.
So if you have more exact data or even better data from original plans of the E-10 type, which are missing here or are not correct, please write a mail to me!!! Also any further information concerning the E-10 will ever be welcome!!!!

If you're interested in more info or photos, please read the following mentioned books.

Literature:
- Spezial-Panzerfahrzeuge des deutschen Heeres, Spielberger, 1993, Motorbuch
- Leichte Jagdpanzer, Spielberger, 1997, Motorbuch
- Waffen und Geheimwaffen des deutschen Heeres 1933-1945, Hahn, 1998, Bernard & Graefe


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