VK 3002 (M)

VK 3002 (M)

Pz.IV J

Panther D

VK 3002 (M)

Pz.IV J

Panther D

Germany

III Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
5.0	5.0	5.0

Class:

Medium tank

Research:26 000

Purchase:76 000

Description

The VK 3002 (M) is a medium tank prototype created for the German Wehrmacht during World War II by the Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nürnberg (MAN) in response to a proposal by the Ministry of Armaments and War Production for a 30-ton tank to be used by the German Army in 1941. Daimler-Benz also created its project, known as the VK 3002 (DB), as a competitive prototype. Germany expected to face a weaker opponent when it attacked the Soviet Union in June 1941. The Wehrmacht was taken by surprise by the T-34's sloping armour and the heavily armoured KV-1. German Generaloberst Heinz Guderian first proposed that a direct replica would be the most efficient way to combat the T-34. The Army Weapons Department rejected this due to difficulty in creating sufficient quantities of diesel engines and steel alloy. The Daimler-Benz VK 3002 (DB) was first ordered into production with an initial goal of 200 tanks, mainly due to Hitler's preference for the design. The Waffenprufamt 6 committee, on the other hand, preferred the more traditional (in terms of German design and engineering) MAN VK 3002 (M) and placed orders for it in May 1942, before secretly cancelling the VK 3002 (DB) order. While the VK 3002 (DB) could have been less expensive and easier to construct, the Waffenprüfamt 6 committee preferred the MAN VK 3002 (M)'s roomier turret and more cutting-edge suspension. The MAN VK 3002 (M) also used the same engine as the Tiger I heavy tank, making production and maintenance easier. It also had larger tracks, which would aid in ground pressure on soft terrain. The VK 3002 (M) was built but never saw combat.

Introduced in Update "Drone Age", the VK 3002 (M) is the prototype for what would ultimately become the iconic Panzerkampfwagen V Panther medium tank family for the German Army during World War II. The VK 3002 (M) tank was designed ahead of its time and includes various advanced features, such as overlapping road wheels that disperse pressure more evenly when going over soft terrain. When compared to Allied tanks, the VK 3002 (M) has unrivalled firepower and precision thanks to its long-barrelled 75 mm Kampfwagenkanone (KwK) 42 L/70 tank gun. However, since the turret is cranked by hand, the traverse speed is poor, and close-quarters battles with enemy tanks in towns are not encouraged. To make the most of this tank's powerful main gun, use it as a long-range sniper.

General info

Survivability and armour

Smoke grenades

Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle

Armourfront / side / back

Hull60 / 40 / 40

Turret80 / 45 / 45

Crew5 people

Visibility125 %

The armour layout is very similar to a standard Panther, though significantly weaker for the front plate (60 mm instead of 80 mm thick) and the turret (80 mm for the turret front and 50 mm for the mantlet instead of the 100 mm on the Panther A). It is adequate against low-velocity projectiles, but its armour should not be relied upon much, unless the distance between you and the target is large. Unlike the Panther A, angling on the VK 3002 is helpful, angling some 15-20 degrees will make the hull almost entirely immune to Soviet 85 mm cannons, which the tank will commonly face. The same procedure goes against most American cannons. Of course, if they aim at the turret, you'll end up penetrated, but the good thing is that this prototype shares the same good post-penetration survivability of a Panther, due to the driver and machine gunner being far from the turret, even the Soviet 85 mm APHE rounds will not usually knock it out from a turret penetration.

Despite having thick armour, the VK 3002 (M) is not impenetrable. It has a very powerful upper front armour plate, yet an experienced player will rarely approach one from the front. Instead, they'll attempt to flank the vehicle, which is exceptionally easy when the VK is attacking alone. The tank's frontal armour, as powerful as it is, can still be penetrated at short distances by well-aimed shots from tanks commonly seen at its BR, such as the T-34-85 or the IS-1. However, it can deflect most rounds fired at it from afar, further improving the VK 3002 (M)'s long-distance combat capabilities.

Armour type:

• Rolled homogeneous armour (hull, turret)
• Cast homogeneous armour (cupola)

Armour	Front (Slope angle)	Sides	Rear	Roof
Hull	60 mm (55°)	40 mm (40°) Top 40 mm Bottom	40 mm (30°)	10-16 mm
Turret	80 mm (12°) Turret front 99-158 mm (7-56°) Gun mantlet	45 mm (21°)	45 mm (25°)	16 mm (5°)
Cupola	110 mm	110 mm	110 mm	16 mm

Notes:

Mobility

Speedforward / back

AB62 / 5 km/h

RB and SB55 / 5 km/h

Number of gears7 forward

1 back

Weight35.0 t

Engine power

AB1 240 hp

RB and SB650 hp

Power-to-weight ratio

AB35.4 hp/t

RB and SB18.6 hp/t

The VK 3002 (M) has reasonable forward mobility, but sharp turns cause it to slow down significantly. Furthermore, the neutral steering found on Panther tanks is absent, and the reverse speed is subpar. Because close quarter mobility is not a strong point with this tank, you should aim to keep your distance from the enemy. Otherwise, enemy medium and light tanks will flank you easily since your turret traverse speed is also too slow to allow you to react.

Game Mode	Max Speed (km/h)		Weight (tons)	Engine power (horsepower)		Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
	Forward	Reverse		Stock	Upgraded	Stock	Upgraded
Arcade	62	5	35	1,007	1,240	28.77	35.43
Realistic	55	5		575	650	16.43	18.57

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB1 054 → 1 426

RB1 239 → 1 676

SB1 570 → 2 124

Total cost of modifications24 800

44 800

Talisman cost1 100

Crew training22 000

Experts76 000

Aces400

Research Aces320 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

70 / 110 / 120 %

142 / 142 / 142 %

Modifications

Mobility	Protection	Firepower
Tracks Research: 1 700 Cost: 3 100 130 Suspension Research: 1 400 Cost: 2 500 105 Brake System Research: 1 400 Cost: 2 500 105 Filters Research: 1 500 Cost: 2 700 115 Transmission Research: 2 700 Cost: 4 900 200 Engine Research: 2 700 Cost: 4 900 200	Improved Parts Research: 1 700 Cost: 3 100 130 Improved FPE Research: 1 400 Cost: 2 500 105 Crew Replenishment Research: 1 500 Cost: 2 700 115	Horizontal Drive Research: 1 700 Cost: 3 100 130 Adjustment of Fire Research: 1 400 Cost: 2 500 105 Elevation Mechanism Research: 1 500 Cost: 2 700 115 Smoke grenade Research: 1 500 Cost: 2 700 115 Artillery Support Research: 2 700 Cost: 4 900 200

Armaments

Main armament

75 mm KwK42 cannon

Ammunition79 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

9.6 → 7.4 s

Vertical guidance-8° / 20°

The VK 3002 (M)'s 75 mm cannon grants the vehicle an edge over most other vehicles seen at its BR, especially at longer ranges thanks to its high shell velocity and low projectile mass. The characteristics of this gun, paired with its relatively long reload and the VK 3002 (M)'s poor turret rotation speed, render the vehicle a powerful opponent on longer ranges, but a lacklustre tank in close combat due to its lack of flexibility most other mediums at its BR have. The stock reload speed of 9.6s and turret rotation speed of 7.9°/s allows the VK 3002 (M) to be easily flanked by more agile opponents, and destroyed due to its thin side armour. The player's ammunition load should be composed of mostly the stock APCBC shells, with a few HE rounds in case one meets a vehicle vulnerable to them.

75 mm KwK42					Turret rotation speed (°/s)					Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode	Capacity	Vertical	Horizontal	Stabilizer	Stock	Upgraded	Full	Expert	Aced	Stock	Full	Expert	Aced
Arcade	79	-8°/+20°	±180°	-	5.7	7.9	9.6	10.6	11.3	9.62	8.51	7.84	7.40
Realistic					3.6	4.2	5.1	5.6	6.0

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
		10 m	100 m	500 m	1,000 m	1,500 m	2,000 m
PzGr 39/42	APCBC	192	188	173	156	140	126
Sprgr. 42	HE	13	12	11	11	11	11

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
PzGr 39/42	APCBC	935	6.8	1.2	14	28.9	48°	63°	71°
Sprgr. 42	HE	700	5.74	0.2	0.1	725	79°	80°	81°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the VK 3002 (M)

Full ammo	1st rack empty	2nd rack empty	3rd rack empty	4th rack empty	5th rack empty	6th rack empty
79	76 (+3)	70 (+9)	64 (+15)	58 (+21)	51 (+28)	45 (+34)
7th rack empty	8th rack empty	9th rack empty	10th rack empty	11th rack empty	Visual discrepancy
41 (+38)	31 (+48)	21 (+58)	11 (+68)	1 (+78)	No

Notes:

• Shells are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
• If you pack 21 (+58) shells, it will keep most of the hull empty of ammo.

Machine guns

7.92 mm MG34 machine gun (coaxial)

Ammunition2 700 rounds

Belt capacity150 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

10.4 → 8.0 s

Fire rate900 shots/min

7.92 mm MG34
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Coaxial	2,700 (150)	900	-	-

Usage in battles

The VK 3002 (M) serves as a proper and useful introduction to the Panther line. Its lacklustre reload speed and poor turret traverse speed restrict it to a more passive playstyle, while the high muzzle velocity and low projectile mass allow it to excel at long-distance engagements. However, most maps will force the player to fight in tight, often urban environments. On those maps, the VK 3002 (M) works best when used as a support vehicle, owing to its low versatility yet high frontal armour and a powerful cannon. Staying close to teammates allows the VK to fight without the fear of being flanked, which should be the player's main concern. Leading an assault or pushing deep behind enemy lines should generally be avoided, unless the match is close to being over and the player has to act fast in order to score any more points.

When fighting a VK 3002 (M), the player should try to avoid frontal engagements and use the opponent's poor mobility to flank the vehicle and destroy it with what is usually a single shell to the 40 mm thick side armour, enough to detonate the ammunition magazine. When driving a Heavy Tank with limited mobility, the player should instead attempt to hit the VK's gun mantlet, which in most cases will immediately knock out all three crew members manning the turret, rendering the VK 3002 (M) defenseless. If that's impossible, a single shell to the commander's cupola will knock out two, and occasionally all three of the turret crew. Heavy Tanks with powerful enough cannons, such as the Tiger H1 can usually penetrate the VK 3002 (M) directly from the front, knocking out most if not all of the tank's crew members with ease. In a medium tank, the player can generally allow themselves to attempt a flanking attack, which is significantly easier in RB, thanks to the player's invisibility on the minimap. In urban environments, most medium tanks are at an advantage of speed and agility, which as a result lets the player get behind the VK, allowing it to take out its turret crew with one shot, then follow it up with a round to the side armour, detonating the ammunition. In a light tank or SPAA, the player's high mobility allows it to easily flank the VK, provided they have the element of surprise, and attack its thin side armour to knock out the vehicle. If that's impossible, the player should destroy the VK 3002 (M)'s gun barrel with continuous fire, then its track, after which they should either look for a way to attack the enemy from the side and rear, or back away.

A frontal engagement against the VK 3002 (M) should be started with the element of surprise, as the VK's long 75 mm can easily knock out most tanks at its BR with only one shell to the front. Ensuring that the enemy player driving the VK 3002 (M) is not currently paying attention to your position, or is preferably fighting another ally, can solve this problem.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• High speed on flat terrain and satisfactory agility
• Deadly cannon with 192 mm maximum penetration, can frontally penetrate any tank it can face (e.g. IS-2, M4A3E2, Churchill VII, etc)
• 75 mm cannon has flat trajectory and high shell velocity, beginner-friendly for long range engagements
• Frontal armour is immune against some lower-tier tanks like T-34-76, 75 mm M4, M24, etc.
• Has smoke grenades, helpful to conceal the tank

Cons:

• Has big and tall silhouette of the Panther family, very easy to get hit
• Frontal armour can still get penetrated by most common foes (e.g. T-34-85, Avenger, M36, M18, etc)
• Poor -4 km/h reverse speed can prevent the player from retreating into cover
• Side & rear armour are flat and thin (~40 mm), easily penetrable by SPAAs and light vehicles (e.g. ZSD63, M24, etc)
• Slow turning ability (no neutral steering)
• Slow turret traverse

History

The VK 3002 (M) was MAN's attempt at designing a breakthrough medium tank, which was needed at the time due to the Pz. III and IV's inability to effectively combat the T-34. On May 13th, 1942, the tank's design, alongside with Daimler-Benz's version, were submitted to the Ministry of Armaments and War Production. Despite the Daimler-Benz prototype's lower cost, the MAN design was chosen due to the more spacious turret and more modern suspension. Furthermore, the MAN variant used the same engine as the Tiger H1, which helped with production and maintenance. The newly chosen design was slightly modified, and then entered production under the official designation - Pz. Kpfw. V Panther D.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the VK 3002 (M) from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

The Shooting Range #325 - Metal Beasts section at 00:29 discusses the VK 3002 (M).

See also

Related development

• Panzer V Panther (Family)

External links

• [Devblog] VK 30.02 (M): The Cub Roars

Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nürnberg Aktiengesellschaft (MAN AG)
Medium tanks
Panther	VK 3002 (M) · Panther A · Ersatz M10 · Panther D · Panther F · Panther G · Panther II
Export/captured
USSR	▂T-V
France	Panther "Dauphiné"