That doesn't really make logical sense. There's two huge castings making up each "wheel". Making those is a big job, that doesn't really make sense for a hoax. Meanwhile, there is a lot of documentation showing that people did experiment with "ball tanks" between WWI and WWII.
https://www.tankarchives.ca/2013/06/spherical-tanks.html
>There's two huge castings making up each "wheel". Making those is a big job
uh what, moron?
you could make those in 2 hours by yourself with a sand pit and a trench shovel and maybe 30 minutes of grinding.
yes, of course you dickweed. My point is that a nation with a fricking massive metals industry like Russia, for example, could knock that out in no time.
That simple of a device such as the Kugelpanzer would not be hard to design or fabricate even with a small team of people over the span of a few weeks.
>My point is that a nation with a fricking massive metals industry like Russia, for example, could knock that out in no time.
During WWII? When they were utterly dependent on foreign aid just to manufacture their own war supplies? No way they'd devote what limited resources they had in a foundry or machine shop for a pointless a hoax as this would be.
Now it's possible it's an older, pre-war Soviet device and the claim that it was Nazi is false. But I think far too much effort went into building that to consider it a hoax. The effort:reward equation is just so unbalanced. It makes much more sense that it was someone's failed attempt at a ball tank.
3 months ago
Anonymous
>During WWII?
there is absolutely 0 proof that it has been built during ww2, the morons cant even decide if they found it at kummersdorf (next to the heckin maus!!!) or on the other side of the planet with the kwantung army in manchuria
its most likely a fake built after the war, like a million other hoaxes
>make enemy look like technological super soldiers >increase your cred by extension as you were the one to beat them despite the odds
Old time tactic amongst ruskies. Same reason why they let a lot of "German Aces" mythology to spread after the war. >enemy were superior killers >you killed them anyway despite the odds
That doesn't make any sense. Multiple nations already researched this kind of thing before WWII and it was known to be a dead end. Nothing about the "kugelpanzer" is groundbreaking or special. Yet at the same time it clearly took a lot of resources to make. It's much more likely that it's a failed prototype.
>fallen for soviet era propaganda
Many such cases.
The Kugelpanzer is a fricking joke.
There's nothing impressive or superior about it.
Why do you think they do not want too many people sniffing around it? If people found out that this weird blob vehicle was an early attempt to upsell the germans it would be an embarrassment and call into question other finds or claims.
There's no point in coming up with conspiracy theory when all of it can be explained through stupidity, incompetence and blind walking.
Soviets weren't able to compete with the western intertainment industry and pop history, not that they actually tried.
The Kugelpanzer, nicknamed "ball tank," is an armored vehicle shrouded in mystery. While most believe it was built by Nazi Germany during World War II, its history remains largely unknown. Here's what we do know:
**Existence:**
* **One remaining example:** Only one Kugelpanzer exists, currently housed in the Kubinka Tank Museum in Russia.
* **Limited information:** No official documentation about its creation, purpose, or use exists.
**Possible origin and use:**
* **German build:** Most agree it was German-made, with Krupp being a possible manufacturer.
* **Japan connection:** The most common theory suggests it was sent to Japan and used by the Kwantung Army, possibly for reconnaissance.
* **Capture:** Soviet troops captured it in 1945, further supporting the Japan link.
**Uncertainties:**
* **Exact dates:** Unclear whether it's a pre-war or late-war design.
* **Purpose:** Theories range from cable laying to artillery spotting, none of them conclusive.
* **Soviet capture:** Some believe it could've been captured in Germany, not Manchuria.
**Additional Notes:**
* **Incomplete:** The surviving Kugelpanzer lacks some parts, adding to the mystery.
* **Thin armor:** Only 5mm thick, suggesting it wasn't meant for direct combat.
* **Unique design:** The spherical shape offered good maneuverability but limited visibility.
While the evidence points towards German origin and Japanese use, the lack of documentation leaves room for speculation. The truth about the Kugelpanzer might forever remain an intriguing historical puzzle.
**It's important to note that the claim of its use in Manchuria specifically is not proven and relies on the most widespread theory, not definitive evidence.**
OP here. After 1 Day of research here is my working theory.
The big thing that didn't make sense to me was the 5mm armor. This was something the Italians and Japanese flirted with but the Germans by 1939 had abandoned such thin armor. Could maybe the Germans have sent Japan schematics, and the JAPS built it based off German designs?
We can't tell without examining the materials which the soviets certainly won't let us do. But either way the thing looks like it is of inter-war design, especially the little wheel at the back looks like it came from the treffas wagen after WWI. This thing isnt Nazi design, its from Weimar. So what if this wasn’t sent to Japan in the 1940s but rather to China in the 1930s. It doesn’t make any sense Germany would send a hunk of junk to Japan in the middle of WWII. What makes more sense was a non functional prototype was given to China in the 1930s as a token of good faith by the German officers who were teaching the Chinese about manouvre warfare. Remember Germany had good relations with China during peace time in the 20s and 30s. Then the Japanese captured it in china sometime in the early 1940s and didn’t know what to make of it, and so it just chilled in Manchuria for the rest of the war, where the Soviets found it and made a propaganda installment out of it.
Thats the theory that makes the most sense to me after looking into it.
>The big thing that didn't make sense to me was the 5mm armor.
I thought the same, but the numbers just don't add up, so there is some incorrect information somewhere.
Supposedly the Kugelpanzer is about 5 feet diameter and the thickness is supposedly 5mm. However, the volume of a 5 foot OD hollow sphere with a 1/4" thick (over 6mm) wall is 2800 cubic inches which results in a weight of about 800 lbs of solid steel. That's nowhere close to its supposed 4,000 lb weight. The only way the numbers begin to work is if the wheels are much thicker, while only the narrow section in the center is 5mm. For example a 5 foot steel sphere that's 1 inch thick weighs about 3100 lbs. That's a lot more reasonable average thickness.
But like you said the real problem is we know so little about it because the Russians won't allow it. That said, your theory that it was some failed prototype makes a lot of sense.
It was built for traversing antarctic ice wastes. A haunebu carrying one crashed in Manchuria and the crew only had enough compound 47-35 to dissolve the wreckage of the flying disc.
its not real but just one of many soviet lies
painting something gray and slapping a shoddy balkenkreuz sticker on something doesnt actually make it a nazi weapon
I think the funniest part of the kugelpanzer hoax is that you can literally just see how the """wheels""" are straight up welded to the middle part and could never rotate
anyone who believes this shit to be real is genuinely moronic
the more interesting question is how it ended up at the museum, did they know it was fake but allowed it to have something "cool" and "unique" that could draw visitors or did some random shmuck manage to grift them for a reward/fame or something
That doesn't mean it was a hoax to begin with, it just means it's been fricked with at some point. There are many tanks, artillery pieces, etc, in museums which have been welded in various ways to make display easier.
Why assume this was even an official sanctioned project. Could have just been something a few autistic German factory workers were doing on their lunch break. The zigs break in a couple of years later and think they've found Himmler's timesphere.
I did, I'm sorry for littering
Real question who the frick though this was a good idea?
It's a hoax made by the Soviets.
That doesn't really make logical sense. There's two huge castings making up each "wheel". Making those is a big job, that doesn't really make sense for a hoax. Meanwhile, there is a lot of documentation showing that people did experiment with "ball tanks" between WWI and WWII.
https://www.tankarchives.ca/2013/06/spherical-tanks.html
>There's two huge castings making up each "wheel". Making those is a big job
uh what, moron?
you could make those in 2 hours by yourself with a sand pit and a trench shovel and maybe 30 minutes of grinding.
Anon, I've worked in a foundry. There's an awful lot more work involved in casting that shit than lol dig a hole in the sand.
yes, of course you dickweed. My point is that a nation with a fricking massive metals industry like Russia, for example, could knock that out in no time.
That simple of a device such as the Kugelpanzer would not be hard to design or fabricate even with a small team of people over the span of a few weeks.
>My point is that a nation with a fricking massive metals industry like Russia, for example, could knock that out in no time.
During WWII? When they were utterly dependent on foreign aid just to manufacture their own war supplies? No way they'd devote what limited resources they had in a foundry or machine shop for a pointless a hoax as this would be.
Now it's possible it's an older, pre-war Soviet device and the claim that it was Nazi is false. But I think far too much effort went into building that to consider it a hoax. The effort:reward equation is just so unbalanced. It makes much more sense that it was someone's failed attempt at a ball tank.
>During WWII?
there is absolutely 0 proof that it has been built during ww2, the morons cant even decide if they found it at kummersdorf (next to the heckin maus!!!) or on the other side of the planet with the kwantung army in manchuria
its most likely a fake built after the war, like a million other hoaxes
are they on War Thunder?
It is Hitler's long lost left ball
Smuggled out of the Antarctic nexus. Stop asking questions.
its was supposed to be fuhrers host body, like dr breen in half life 2
The same organization that built Die Glocke. Kammler people were also involved but I advise against researching this topic.
It's 110% Soviet bullshit considering that Kubinka won't let anyone touch the damn thing and that there's ZERO published documentation on it.
Just...Why?
>make enemy look like technological super soldiers
>increase your cred by extension as you were the one to beat them despite the odds
Old time tactic amongst ruskies. Same reason why they let a lot of "German Aces" mythology to spread after the war.
>enemy were superior killers
>you killed them anyway despite the odds
That doesn't make any sense. Multiple nations already researched this kind of thing before WWII and it was known to be a dead end. Nothing about the "kugelpanzer" is groundbreaking or special. Yet at the same time it clearly took a lot of resources to make. It's much more likely that it's a failed prototype.
>fallen for soviet era propaganda
Many such cases.
Why do you think they do not want too many people sniffing around it? If people found out that this weird blob vehicle was an early attempt to upsell the germans it would be an embarrassment and call into question other finds or claims.
The Kugelpanzer is a fricking joke.
There's nothing impressive or superior about it.
There's no point in coming up with conspiracy theory when all of it can be explained through stupidity, incompetence and blind walking.
Soviets weren't able to compete with the western intertainment industry and pop history, not that they actually tried.
Experimental mobile pillbox
>A KING TIGER!
>RUN!
Thanks OP I've been really wanting to have a ball tank thread.
Oh my god... it's adorable.
Can these make a comeback with advent of drones??
The Kugelpanzer, nicknamed "ball tank," is an armored vehicle shrouded in mystery. While most believe it was built by Nazi Germany during World War II, its history remains largely unknown. Here's what we do know:
**Existence:**
* **One remaining example:** Only one Kugelpanzer exists, currently housed in the Kubinka Tank Museum in Russia.
* **Limited information:** No official documentation about its creation, purpose, or use exists.
**Possible origin and use:**
* **German build:** Most agree it was German-made, with Krupp being a possible manufacturer.
* **Japan connection:** The most common theory suggests it was sent to Japan and used by the Kwantung Army, possibly for reconnaissance.
* **Capture:** Soviet troops captured it in 1945, further supporting the Japan link.
**Uncertainties:**
* **Exact dates:** Unclear whether it's a pre-war or late-war design.
* **Purpose:** Theories range from cable laying to artillery spotting, none of them conclusive.
* **Soviet capture:** Some believe it could've been captured in Germany, not Manchuria.
**Additional Notes:**
* **Incomplete:** The surviving Kugelpanzer lacks some parts, adding to the mystery.
* **Thin armor:** Only 5mm thick, suggesting it wasn't meant for direct combat.
* **Unique design:** The spherical shape offered good maneuverability but limited visibility.
While the evidence points towards German origin and Japanese use, the lack of documentation leaves room for speculation. The truth about the Kugelpanzer might forever remain an intriguing historical puzzle.
**It's important to note that the claim of its use in Manchuria specifically is not proven and relies on the most widespread theory, not definitive evidence.**
OP here. After 1 Day of research here is my working theory.
The big thing that didn't make sense to me was the 5mm armor. This was something the Italians and Japanese flirted with but the Germans by 1939 had abandoned such thin armor. Could maybe the Germans have sent Japan schematics, and the JAPS built it based off German designs?
We can't tell without examining the materials which the soviets certainly won't let us do. But either way the thing looks like it is of inter-war design, especially the little wheel at the back looks like it came from the treffas wagen after WWI. This thing isnt Nazi design, its from Weimar. So what if this wasn’t sent to Japan in the 1940s but rather to China in the 1930s. It doesn’t make any sense Germany would send a hunk of junk to Japan in the middle of WWII. What makes more sense was a non functional prototype was given to China in the 1930s as a token of good faith by the German officers who were teaching the Chinese about manouvre warfare. Remember Germany had good relations with China during peace time in the 20s and 30s. Then the Japanese captured it in china sometime in the early 1940s and didn’t know what to make of it, and so it just chilled in Manchuria for the rest of the war, where the Soviets found it and made a propaganda installment out of it.
Thats the theory that makes the most sense to me after looking into it.
>The big thing that didn't make sense to me was the 5mm armor.
I thought the same, but the numbers just don't add up, so there is some incorrect information somewhere.
Supposedly the Kugelpanzer is about 5 feet diameter and the thickness is supposedly 5mm. However, the volume of a 5 foot OD hollow sphere with a 1/4" thick (over 6mm) wall is 2800 cubic inches which results in a weight of about 800 lbs of solid steel. That's nowhere close to its supposed 4,000 lb weight. The only way the numbers begin to work is if the wheels are much thicker, while only the narrow section in the center is 5mm. For example a 5 foot steel sphere that's 1 inch thick weighs about 3100 lbs. That's a lot more reasonable average thickness.
But like you said the real problem is we know so little about it because the Russians won't allow it. That said, your theory that it was some failed prototype makes a lot of sense.
It's a portal device, twist both wheels into the opposite direction and a gateway to hyperborea will open
It was built for traversing antarctic ice wastes. A haunebu carrying one crashed in Manchuria and the crew only had enough compound 47-35 to dissolve the wreckage of the flying disc.
probably fake, it isn't even symmetrical and the "wheels" are just welded on.
its not real but just one of many soviet lies
painting something gray and slapping a shoddy balkenkreuz sticker on something doesnt actually make it a nazi weapon
Buhbuhbuh ballsss
I think the funniest part of the kugelpanzer hoax is that you can literally just see how the """wheels""" are straight up welded to the middle part and could never rotate
anyone who believes this shit to be real is genuinely moronic
the more interesting question is how it ended up at the museum, did they know it was fake but allowed it to have something "cool" and "unique" that could draw visitors or did some random shmuck manage to grift them for a reward/fame or something
That doesn't mean it was a hoax to begin with, it just means it's been fricked with at some point. There are many tanks, artillery pieces, etc, in museums which have been welded in various ways to make display easier.
>How did it get to Manchuria
by rolling
Why assume this was even an official sanctioned project. Could have just been something a few autistic German factory workers were doing on their lunch break. The zigs break in a couple of years later and think they've found Himmler's timesphere.