The Kugelpanzer was a seemingly useless vehicle
Not much is known about the Kugelpanzer, and what’s assumed is the result of speculation, as no documentation has been recovered regarding its design or purpose. However, it’s assumed it was produced by Krupp, which produced various military vehicles during World War II.
What is known is that the Kugelpanzer was a 25 horsepower single-cylinder two-strong engine vehicle with 5 mm-thick outer armor. It weighed 1.8 tons and rolled along 1.5-meter diameter rollers while the driver(s) sat on a saddle-like stool.
It was probably only operated by one person
Given its relatively compact size, it was probably powered by just one person. The drive mechanism was situated behind the operator, with the steering wheel positioned at the rear. This design helped shift the vehicle’s center of gravity and provided stability for the rotational movements of its wheels.
Beyond that, opinions vary. Russian Popular Mechanics estimates that the Kugelpanzer was quite slow, reaching a top speed of only 5 MPH. Additionally, there was a slit at the front, which likely served both as a viewing port and a mounting point for a machine gun, possibly a 7.9 2mm MG-34 or MG-42.
Only a single Kugelpanzer survived World War II
Much of what is known about the Kugelpanzer comes from one the Red Army captured from the Japanese Kwantung Army in Manchuria in 1945. It’s believed to be the only one still in existence, and is currently on display at the Kubinka Tank Museum. Upon its capture, the model was repainted and its drive mechanism removed. The original paintwork was restored in 2000.
It’s currently not clear what metal makes up the vehicle’s exterior, as samples are not allowed to be taken. As well, there’s no evidence to show it or other Kugelpanzers ever saw combat, at least in the European Theater.
What is known is that its design is similar to that of other military vehicles. These include WWI’s Treffas-Wagen, the Tsar Tank, inventor A.J. Richardson’s Tumbleweed Tank, and the War Tank on One Wheel. However, none were as peculiar.
Japan’s kamikaze strategy
Theories about the Kugelpanzer‘s purpose are varied. The prevailing belief is that it was probably used as a light reconnaissance vehicle, while some propose it may have been used for infantry support or to lay cables along the frontlines. However, the most intriguing theory is that it might have been employed by the Imperial Japanese Army as part of its kamikaze strategy during the Pacific Theater of World War II.
By 1944, Japanese pilots had started deliberately crashing their planes into enemy targets to inflict maximum damage, often sacrificing their own lives in the process. By the fall of that year, the Imperial Japanese Army, in its growing desperation, began integrating these suicide missions into its offensive plans, creating the need for new vehicles and equipment.
The Kugelpanzer shared features with kamikaze attack aircrafts
Along with improvising already existing devices, the Japanese developed an array of new military vehicles. This included the Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka, a kamikaze attack aircraft; manned underwater crafts like the Kaiten and Kairyū; and Shin’yō boats
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Given the purpose behind their designs would more than likely lead to the death of their occupants, these vehicles were often small and lightly armored. They also had little-to-no offensive weaponry onboard. The Kugelpanzer shared these features, leading some to theorize it was used to ram into enemy tanks.
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