hi snackers~

To provide a modular protection for armored trains, but also reconnaissance tanks able by themselves to ride on the railways on the Eastern front, the Germans are studying the possibility of to create draisines from medium tanks. This was already existing tanks, no mass production was planned. In 1943, Saurer firm (Vienna), proposed a conversion of a Panzer III Ausf.N in Bahnsicherungsfhrzeug (railway safety vehicle) or Schienenkampfwagen I (SK I). The tank-bogies was perfect for exploitation. Indeed it could travel great distances with a very low fuel consumption (over the road) and its tracks allowed it to bypass the interruptions of railway due to sabotage. However this tank-bogies remained at the stage of demonstrator, lack of time, though the project is still under study, and a similar project based on the Panther was also considered.

The Panther-bogies would probably have adopted the technical solutions of SK I. A retractable wheel device to be installed in a room in the floor. It was coupled to a hydraulic system driven by the engine, which allowed a few seconds to put the wheels on rails or retract them, without the crew must leave the tank. (On this model, The bogies are fixed!!) The propulsion was transmitted to the wheels via the forearm (the rear wheels are free). Braking however intervened on all wheels. On the SK I, the tests show that on the railway, consumption represents a quarter of that on the tracks, on a flat road. A similar value was expected for Schienenkampfwagen Panther. With its Maybach 12-cylinder engine developing 700 hp, one could expect a top speed on railway over 100 km/h. The price for this conversion is lack of space, reduced ammunition payload capacity... but also a reduction of ground clearance, resulting a reduction of cross-country capabilities of the tank. It ignores the actual role alleged to this tank-bogies; armored train module, armored locomotive or autonomous reconnaissance draisines... but the Schienenkampfwagen Panther has received in all cases an exceptional tactical mobility.

Please note this tank is very unstable !!

press AG7 for engine start

(optional) If you would prefer for it to follow train tracks, There are rotators connecting the bogies and the tank together, Set those to “Floppy”