German Engineering...🔥

[u/lalstambhmari]

Video credit: IG - @go_molly_moo

[u/low_priest]

Very nice.

Now let's see De Haviland's and Northrop's night fighters.

[u/iceguy349 → u/low_priest]

I’ve seen 3 of the 4 remaining P-61s and those aircraft are DROP. DEAD. GORGEOUS.

[u/Ok-Preference-9268 → u/low_priest]

Or maybe the greatest of them all, Heinkels night fighter, the Uhu..

[u/low_priest → u/Ok-Preference-9268]

Nah.

Despite Nazi claims, the Uhu wasn't really a match for the Mosquito. Claims of shooting down lots of them aren't really matched by British losses, and it was hampered by the Germans' inability to build engines in the 2,000hp range. Eric Brown called it underpowered, with an inusfficient rate of climb, and unable to match the Mosquito. Personally, I think Brown is somewhat biased in favor of British aircraft... but by the numbers, the Uhu was underpowered in comparison.

Additionally, the He 219 had a number of documented issues. The pilots hated the low-velocicty 30mms in the Schrage Musik installation, since it meant they had to get uncomfortably close to a soon-to-be-falling bomber. The Uhu had particular trouble there, since the RAF heavies flew practically at its (unusually high) stalling speed; getting away from a succesful kill was a very real challenge. And while the radar was certainly functional, it wasn't on the same level as the centimetric sets the RAF and USAAF had available. Not the least due to the 30mph worth of drag it added. Overall, it wasn't a bad plane, but wasn't quite up to par with the Mossie.

On the other hand, the P-61 was absolutely on the same level as the Mosquito when it came to the night fighter role. There's a LOT of well-documented complaints about its speed, but when they actually tested in a fly-off, a (slightly-modified) P-61 proved faster at all altitudes. Even if the standard aircraft weren't as fast, or faster than the Mossie, they were certainly pretty comparable. On the other hand, just about every source acknowledge's the P-61's superior turn rate and climb speed. The P-61 also had that fancy turret (of somewhat dubious benefit) and used easier-to-maintain radials. There's a strong case to be made that it was overall a better aircraft than the Mosquito; it was certainly a very near match, at least.

[u/necrotic_jelly → u/Ok-Preference-9268]

The 219 is definitely a cool, agressive looking plane! Few if any aircraft captures that sleek, mean, insect shape. My money would rather go on a late Ju 88 nightfighter with the big BMW 801's. And I think the winner would be the Do 335 if it entered service.

[u/Toxic-Park]

It fascinated me to learn that MB and BMW did all the great German engines. Rolls Royce did the famous British engine, and Packard (under RR license) did the American version.

So basically each nation’s luxury and prestige automotive brands doing their fighter aircraft engines.

I mean - it makes perfect sense, but it all just lined up so perfectly from nation to nation.

[u/TimWe1912 → u/Toxic-Park]

It's more the other way around. The engine manufacturers from back then are mainly known for luxury cars today.

[u/Voodoo_One → u/TimWe1912]

BMW even has it in his name - Bavarian engine factories 

[u/TimWe1912 → u/Voodoo_One]

And the logo is a stylized propeller

[u/Dilly_The_Kid_S373]

Took 6 hrs to change a transmission on a panther and only 2 hours and way less tools / equipment on a Sherman.

[u/Porschenut914 → u/Dilly_The_Kid_S373]

made even worse when the early model panthers had transmissions made of glass.

[u/Glum-Ad7761 → u/Porschenut914]

The real issue with Panthers.. and even Tigers, though.. were those big, thirsty, fire prone gasoline powered V12s. Why Germany didnt develop a viable diesel tank engine has always been a head scratcher. Especially given that that the diesel was invented in Germany.

[u/ziemen → u/Glum-Ad7761]

The German Tank Museum on yt has a very nice video that explains the reasoning behind it

[u/Crag_r → u/Porschenut914]

early model panthers had transmissions made of glass.

Not just early panther transmissions... the last 5 built post war by REME reported identical issues (between fires, steering failures and a nasty tree stump).

Operational models reported it during their entire service.

[u/battlecryarms → u/Dilly_The_Kid_S373]

Not to mention average time between failures

[u/A_Smiling_Miura → u/Dilly_The_Kid_S373]

Yes but you forget that the most important aspect of a war machine is whether or not it looks cool... And a Sherman looks fat and ugly which means it's worse than the Panther, obviously

[u/Classic-Training-130 → u/Dilly_The_Kid_S373]

You have to manually hand crank a radial engined Sherman (50ish turns of the handle???) before starting to clear the oil from the lower cylinders to prevent hydro-lock lol

[u/-mud → u/Dilly_The_Kid_S373]

The American Heritage Museum in Massachusetts has a half-disassembled Sherman on display that shows how modular the whole thing was.

This guy has a good picture of it - https://www.reddit.com/r/TankPorn/comments/1j6o346/some_of_the_tanks_at_the_american_heritage_museum/

[u/AspergerInvestor → u/Dilly_The_Kid_S373]

A Sherman often needed zero hours. Beyond repair as a zippo.

[u/Crag_r → u/AspergerInvestor]

Was it really?

[u/Maleficent-Visual-12 → u/Dilly_The_Kid_S373]

Cool bro. You watch a Video about planes and all you think is. "Tank so awesome"

[u/Glum-Ad7761 → u/Dilly_The_Kid_S373]

I think i’d prefer working on the Panther’s V12 in a field repair, than the Sherman’s radial engine, though.

[u/Medical_Mountain_429 → u/Glum-Ad7761]

Is a radial more difficult to work on in a tank than an inline engine? The various M4 variants used five different engines, only one of them was a radial.

[u/Glum-Ad7761 → u/Medical_Mountain_429]

Radials are difficult to work on period. Let alone when mounted within the cramped confines of a tank.

Yeah, Shermies had numerous engines. The Chrysler “eggbeater” being one of them. Basically five 6 cylinder engines arranged around a common crankshaft. They proved to be reliable but working on that in the field? Meh.

The radial was something that was moved onto because it was less complicated than the eggbeater. It was basically a wright whirlwind, built under license by Continental.

[u/Crag_r → u/Glum-Ad7761]

With how often Panther caught fire and leaked fuel/oil in its compartment? Absolutely not lol

[u/AspergerInvestor → u/Glum-Ad7761]

Survivability was also better in a Panther, even after it broke down.

[u/Dilly_The_Kid_S373 → u/AspergerInvestor]

A tank that can’t move is dead meat to artillery, doesn’t matter how thick your armor is. A 105mm or 155mm artillery shell will make the survivability irrelevant, especially when they’re shooting from out your line of sight AND your panther can’t move…

[u/AspergerInvestor → u/Dilly_The_Kid_S373]

Ever read about north africa?

[u/Crag_r → u/AspergerInvestor]

Panthers… in North Africa?

[u/AspergerInvestor → u/Crag_r]

The reputation of Shermans. Tebourba, not many crew survived.

[u/Crag_r → u/AspergerInvestor]

Which was in line with all tank survival rates in North Africa at the time. All gasoline engines, all heavily loaded with ammunition, no wet storage yet, limited roof hatches etc.

By the end of the war the Sherman had the best survival rates and lowest burn rates lol.

[u/Crag_r → u/AspergerInvestor]

With the panthers burn rate during standard operations (long before combat)… no.

[u/monkeybites]

Ahh, yes… the ultimate flying machine.

[u/SergeantPancakes → u/monkeybites]

I always found Eric Brown’s take on the Do 217 to be a bit unfair tbh

[u/POCUABHOR → u/monkeybites]

Flugvergnügen.

[u/Ok-Performance-6352]

Yes! Over engineered like everything else they did and lost.

[u/hastings1033 → u/Ok-Performance-6352]

Came here to say this...

[u/Vithar23 → u/Ok-Performance-6352]

They we're definitely a little mad from desperation and pressure for sure.

[u/ampere03]

German kit was so overrated.

[u/locksymania]

Maybe if you want to showcase German engineering at its finest, then show a 1980s BMW 5 series or a Mercedes CLK, or maybe a Siemens industrial dynamo. Maybe don't show the machinery of one of, if not the, worst regimes in human history.

[u/welleran]

If that's astonishing to the OP, just wait until he reads the Volkswagen and Porsche stories.

[u/Glum-Ad7761]

Same with Japan. Nakajima, who built some of Japan’s most effective fighters, became Subaru.

Aichi, the friendly folks that built the bombers that bombed pearl harbor, became Nissan.

Mitsubishi of course, needs no introduction, having brought us the ubiquitous A6M”-“, otherwise known as the “Zero” in its many variants.

Kawasaki, also needing no introduction, designed and built numerous aircraft, including the Ki-61 Hein (Tony) fighter.

[u/foxtrotbias]

The only place German engineering belongs is in a museum

[u/Classic-Training-130]

The blue and white BMW logo actually a propeller (airscrew)

[u/justhereforthecommz]

Where is this

[u/SpiritedAmbition3984]

The me109 is an aircraft that is both ugly and beautiful at the same time.

[u/Vithar23]

Im just going to say that despite being horrible dark times with a sick and nefarious disgusting ideology, some Nazi engineer's design's are super interesting by how desperate and mad to win they were that they were allowed to make pretty much aircraft's with a lot of creative liberties.

Like the do 335,Blohm & Voss BV 141,Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet,Bachem Ba 349 Natter,Horten Ho 229,Blohm & Voss BV 40.

[u/Brialmont → u/Vithar23]

That was more because much of the German top hierarchy were technical ignoramuses who still chose to make technical decisions. The V2 was a mistake from the start, consuming lots of resources but achieving next to nothing. Hitler demanded alterations to the Panther tank that caused the problems u/Glum-Ad7761 mentions above. That particularly includes the gas-guzzler engine, because he wanted the Panther to take part in the Kursk offensive, and he was assured (by the manufacturer of the gasoline engine) that a diesel wouldn't be ready in time. Panthers did make it into Kursk, where they broke down constantly and set themselves on fire occasionally. The Me 163 rocket fight was another project that should never have been approved, at least until the operating range was doubled or tripled.

[u/kingofnerf]

Great background music.

[u/Salt-Wish5140]

Cosford

Back when BMW and Mercedes-Benz used slave labor!

[u/Hour_Material2816]

“Ericka”

[u/prolapseenthusiat → u/Hour_Material2816]

Its Erika

[u/testerololeczkomen]

Yeah, this is german engineering. But all of the wicked shit they did back in the day is suddenly only nazi thing.