Settle an argument: T95/T28 vs Maus...

[Nik]

Please, Settle an argument: T95 GMC/T28 vs Maus...

Okay, yes, is moot because Allies air superiority means Maus, if sent into combat, would be ham-strung by logistics. Cleaned back to bare metal and its supply chain razed by rocket-firing air-craft. Plus how do you get such a lump to combat zone ?? And crossing water-hazards needed at least two in a buddy-system, the dry-foot powering the wader. Not something to be tried under fire...

By comparison, the T95 GMC was roadable. Could be trucked with out-rigger tracks removed, could even tow its own removed out-rigger tracks.

The T95 GMC had a remarkably low profile and 105mm (120 & 155 mm proposed), while the Maus with its 128 mm was built like a barn. The former could easily target the latter, but not vice-versa.

My take is that you'd just have to besiege Maus or Meece until they were stranded, then offer their crew honourable surrender. Else the T95 would, um, come knocking...

Could the US 105 hurt Maus ? At least from the flank ? Or would it have needed the proposed 120 ??

 

[Foo Fighter]

Perhaps try the WOT forum and see if a map can be arranged.

 

[BB1984]

Just back of the envelope:

• the US 105mm gun with garden variety AP was credited with penetrating 177 mm (7.0 in) of rolled homogeneous armor (RHA) at a 30 degree angle, and 84 mm (3.3 in) of RHA at a 60 degree angle.
• The Maus turret armor was to be 200-225mm, hull was 200 frontally, 180 sides, 150 rear

So if the US was worried about T28 vs. Maus duels, and fielded a 105mm HVAP/APCR round, then it seems like a T28 could destroy a Maus from any angle out to 1000 yards or so, maybe further. With just AP, at least the hull sides and rear would have been vulnerable, and a 105mm AP that powerful would make a mess of the running gear. I haven't seen a source that says the US actually made HVAP for this gun, but it would have been well within the US capabilities at the time.

Looking at it the other way around, the T28 is credited with armor up to 305mm thick, though it's not clear to me how much of the front this covered and the sides and rear were much less. The 12.8cm Pak44 was credited with better penetration than the US 105mm, but not by a lot, maybe 200mm at 1000m.

The T28 probably has a mobility edge but has a fixed gun, compared to the Maus with less mobility but he ability to traverse 360 degrees (though who knows how long this took).

So, if you postulate a T28 with HVAP, on the defense (where it's low silhouette pays off and it's limited traverse is less of an issue), it's probably going to do quite well. OTOH, if you're thinking a T28 with just AP attacking and a Maus defending, then the Maus is in good shape unless it's unlucky enough to only have a shot on the heaviest frontal armor of the T28.

 

[Nik]

Thank you.