Rush for Berlin

Just some excerpts

GERMAN UNITS

Armoured Combat Vehicles

Panzerkampfwagen IV, Revision F2, SdKfz 161/1

A late revision of the medium battle tank manufactured from 1938 onwards. Equipped with a 300HP engine and a long barreled 75mm AT cannon, it posed a serious threat to practically all enemy tanks of the period. The armoured skirt added to protect the drives and the turret turned out to be amazingly resistant against hollow point ammunition. Panzerkampfwagen V "Panther", Revision D, SdKfz 171 Despite the number of early design flaws and mechanical problems, it developed into one of the most successful medium tanks of WWII. Considered to be one of the best armoured vehicles fielded by the Germans, it was a resourceful combination of weaponry, armour and speed. It was capable of destroying all enemy tanks of the period, and was feared by Russian T-34 crews.

Panzerkampfwagen VI "Tiger", Revision E, SdKfz 181

Next generation heavy tank premiered in April 1942. Manufactured by Henschel and armed with a multi-role 88mm cannon, the Tiger was the most powerful armoured vehicle of its time, and went down in history as a symbol excellent German engineering.

Panzerkampfwagen VI "Tiger II", Revision B, SdKfz 182

A revision of the SdKfz 181 heavy tank, which first appeared in 1942. The SdKfz 182 arrived on the battlefields of the Eastern Front in May 1944 . It came equipped with a new, even more powerful 88mm cannon and improved armour plating that made the vehicle indestructable to all but the heaviest Allied tanks.

Field Artillery

88 mm Flak (Model 36)

Originally intended as an anti-aircraft gun, its high impact and extreme precision soon made it a multipurpose weapon widely used in antitank and infantry support roles. Its variations made the best vehicle-mounted AT cannons of the period.

PaK 50mm (Model 38)

A light (50mm) AT cannon capable of firing between 12 and 14 shots per minute. Through it lacked the power to penetrate armour, in the later stages of the war, it proved versatile enough to accept both HE and HEAT ammunition.

LeFH 18 105mm Artillery

An early self-propelled artillery unit. A 105mm field howitzer mounted on the Panzer II chassis. Despite the fact that it only had significant armour plating at the front, it was heavily used by German infantry and artillery units throughout the war.

Self Propelled Guns

Panzerwerfer 42

Dissatisfied with the slow rate of fire of their early rocket launchers, the Germans conducted experiments in an effort to achieve a faster firing rate. Their research resulted in the production of the 15-cm Panzerwerfer 42. It consisted of two banks of 15-cm Nebelwerfer launching tubes, with six tubes in each bank. The launching unit was mounted on an armoured half-track. Since the crew did not need to dig themselves trenches to provide cover, but could shelter in the armoured vehicle fire could be delivered a lot faster than from its predecessor.

Sturmtiger

The original design idea behind the 380mm mortar was an anti submarine role. However in 1944 it was simply planted onto the chassis of the Panzer VI. The result was the Sturmtiger. From its extremely shortbarreled gun, it fired 365kg shells up to a distance of 5km. The crew of 5 was relatively comfortable and safe in their massively armoured stronghold, from which they could fire 13 grenades without recoil, as the flue gases discharged through holes around the barrel. The designers mounted an extension arm on top of the rear end, making the weapon easier to reload. Self Propelled Anti-Tank (AT) Guns

Hetzer

Designed as a fully armoured tank hunter, it entered service in 1943. Constructed on top of the Czech-made Panzer 38t chassis, it was armed with a 75mm AT cannon at the front and a 7,92mm machine gun on top that could be rotated a full 360°. The design was so reliable that it remained in production for the Czech army long after the war.

Jagdtiger

A heavy tank hunter with a 128mm AT cannon mounted on top of a Panzer VI chassis. It was slightly underpowered with a 700HP Maybach engine and was rarely used as a pure hunter tank because of its limited mobility. The infantry appreciated it more for its thick armour plating: once inside or behind it, you were safe from enemy fire. It went down in history as one of the biggest and heaviest combat vehicles ever used.

Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft (AA) Guns

Flakpanzer "Wirbelwind"

The first models appeared in the German army in December 1943 from Ostbau of Sagan (Silesia) factories. It was on an unaltered PzKpfw IV chassis with a 16 mm traversing turret. Most of them were issued to the " Flugabwehrzüge" ,the AntiAircraft platoons of the tank regiments.

Reconaissance Vehicles

Volkswagen Type 62 'Kubelwagen'

A rear wheel drive military version of Ferdinand Porsche's Volkswagen produced from 1941. It was not very fast but quite durable by mid 20th Century standards. Due to its low weight, it managed to perform quite well, even off road. Note: This unit cannot be purchased by the player!

Motorcycle BMW R 75

The workhorse of German dispatch riders! It was designed to carry three fully equipped infantry soldiers. Its sidecar offered ample room for maps, ammunition, weapons and other equipment. It was perfect for the task of moving soldiers quickly to a new position.

Leichter Panzerspähwagen SdKfz 223 FU

A radio version of the SdKfz 222 Armoured Light Recon Vehicle sporting a new chassis, a more powerful engine and a frame aerial mounted around the hull. It was issued to the Panzerspähwagen (armoured reconnaissance) squadrons of light tank and motorized infantry divisions.

Transport

Opel Blitz

A four-wheel drive and very durable truck. It was the most commonly used troop transporter and supply truck in Wehrmacht service. Despite its lack of sufficient armour plating, it was the ideal tool for supply purposes.

Mittlerer Schützenpanzerwagen SdKfz 250

(Medium personnel carrier) A lightly armoured cross-country halftrack, designed as a personnel carrier and reconnaissance vehicle capable of transporting up to six soldiers in full combat gear. Mostly used by Panzer and Panzergrenadier divisions.

Tactical Bomber

Messerschmidt Me 262

This twin engine interceptor of German design, was the first jet-propelled combat aircraft in the world. It began, as a preliminary design in 1939and was first ready to fly in mid-1944. With nearly 1.500 built and over 500 more destroyed by bombing raids before they were completed, fewer than 300 were actually used in combat.

Level Bomber

Heinkel He 111

A single engine recon and transport plane that literally remained in service until the very last days of the war. Its greatest strength was that it needed only 65m to take off and less than 20m to land, while its best hope of avoiding enemy fighters was to slow down and use its unbelievable maneuverability.

Reconnaissance Plane

Fiesler Fi 156 "Storch"

Transport Plane

Junkers Ju 52 "Tante Ju"

Originally presented as a three engine, seventeen passenger commercial airliner in the middle of the 1930's, it was quickly transformed into a military cargo plane capable of carrying up to two tons of supplies and equipment. It was also used to tow gliders and transport infantry or paratrooper units.

SOVIET UNITS

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

T-40-A

An amphibious light tank of a bulky and simple design, made to replace the prewar T-37/38 series. Armed with a 20mm gun, it was rarely seen in service and was mostly used in special assignments.

T-34/76 m40

A mass-produced medium tank, and the Russian version of the revolutionary Christie design; went down in history as one of the emblematic weapons of the Great Patriotic War. It was produced in extremely high numbers, and gave the Germans a nasty shock when they first encountered it, as it was capable of destroying any tank and seemed immune to the punch of their antitank weaponry. The first production model was armed with a 76,2mm gun and was equipped with 2 machine guns. Probably the most important tank of the Allies, it had a great impact on all subsequent designs of the period

T34/85

This was the result of a major revision of the mass-produced medium tank. It was the Russian answer to the improved armour plating and 88mm gun of newer German designs. Essentially equipped with a modified KV-85 turret mounted on the reliable T-34/76 chassis, the vehicle was armed with a high impact 85mm gun.

JS (Josif Stalin) II

Next generation heavy battle tank with sloped plating and a high velocity 122mm gun, which could penetrate all German armour at the time - including that of the fearsome King Tiger. The Russians used them in huge numbers during the final battle for Berlin with devastating results to the last vestiges of German defense.

Field Guns

ZIS-3 7,62 cm

Originally intended as a light field cannon, it was used with great success as an anti-tank weapon. It could fire shells over 10,000m and was able to penetrate 10cm steel at a range of 500m.

BR-17 210mm Gun

Medium regimental artillery piece from the M1939 family of coastal guns. Designed to fire from a fixed position, it was later fitted with tracks to make redeployment easier.

BM-13 'Katyusha'

The chemical rocket batteries were among the most closely guarded secrets of the Red Army during the Great Patriotic War: even their elite 'Guard' crews worked under the close supervision of Internal Security troops. Basically an area effect weapon, the 'Katyusha' fired multiple salvos of incendiary rockets over a distance of up to 25km, causing widespread destruction and panic among the ranks of the enemy.

Self Propelled Anti-Tank (AT) Guns

SU-85

Equipped with an 85mm gun and originally developed for air defense purposes, it posed a lethal threat to light and medium German armour. Its lack of hull-mounted machine guns made it vulnerable to enemy infantry. The lack of a turret was also a disadvantage because the crew needed to turn the whole vehicle towards the selected target. Selbstfahrlafetten

SU-122

The Red Army combined everything they had to create a new generation of assault guns and tank hunters. In the case of the SU-122, they mounted a 122mm field howitzer on top of a T-34 chassis and created a very good assault gun that was able to pass over the worst terrain. It was rarely able to apply its great speed - its main task was to provide fire support for infantry units.

JSU-152

Medium tank hunter based on the chassis of the JS II heavy tank. Its top-mounted high caliber (12.7mm) machine gun, originally intended for air defense purposes, was somewhat special for a Russian vehicle. Unfortunately the gunner had to move on top of the turret if he wanted to use it, making him an easy target for enemy infantry.

Reconnaissance Vehicle

BA-64

A lightly armoured reconnaissance vehicle armed with a 7.62mm MG mounted in a small turret. Rather small and operated by a crew of two, it was extremely capable of traveling cross-country.

Support Vehicles

Voroshilovets

A full track, heavy duty transport vehicle produced in large numbers between 1939 and 41. Powered by a 350hp Diesel engine, its towing capacity well exceeded 20 tons. Later and better armoured examples accompanied the Red Army all the way to the German capital.

Transport

Willys Overland Jeep

The original Jeep is probably the most famous military car ever used, anywhere. It was capable of finding its way through the worst terrain the whole world over. With its four-wheel drive and water-cooled 54HP engine, it could climb hills at 60°, travel through shallow water and had no problem in the desert or in the jungle. On the road it could travel at up to 105km/h and was produced in huge numbers because of it's the easily constructed chassis.

Tactical Bomber

Iljuschin IL-2 Sturmovik

A single engine, heavily armoured ground attack airplane; often referred to as a flying tank. The entire front was fitted with 14mm thick plating when it entered service in 1941. The pilot, engine and fuel tank were all protected from bullets. The canopy front was made of 65mm bulletproof glass. The four machine guns mounted in its wings were replaced by twin cannons in the later period of the war.

Level Bomber

Ilyushin IL-4 DB-3F

A twin-engine medium bomber, mass-produced between 1939 and 1945. With its good defensive weaponry of 3 machine guns, its long range and ability to carrying nearly one ton of bombs, it proved a very successful design.

Reconnaissance Plane

Sukhoi SU-2R

A two-seat light bomber mainly used for reconnaissance purposes during the Great Patriotic War. Later types came with two 7,62mm machine guns and could carry six RS-82 rockets.

WESTERN ALLIED UNITS

Armoured Combat Vehicles

M4A3 Sherman Firefly

A field revision of the mass-produced American, medium tank carrying a British 17 pound (76mm) gun, powerful enough to knock out even the fearsome Tiger.

M26 Pershing

Next generation American medium tank with a cast steel turret, a stabilized 90mm main gun and improved armour plating. The Pershing entered service towards the dramatic end of the war in Europe.

Field Guns

6 Pound

A very successful design capable of firing special SABOT shells over 9.000m. At a range of 900m it could penetrate 63mm steel.

BL 5.5 Inch

A medium field cannon mounted on the MkII chassis. From its 140mm barrel, it was capable of firing three 36.3kg shells per minute over a distance of 15km. It could also fire smoke and flare grenades.

M1 8 Inch

Medium to heavy (203mm) field howitzer, which could send a 42kg HE shell 23kmaway. It became the mainstay of Allied heavy artillery units. Note :This item cannot be purchased by the player!

Self Propelled Guns

M7 Priest

The M7 Priest was a combination of a 105mm howitzer and the chassis of the US M3tank. The US army used the M7 Priest mainly as artillery at medium range to support attacking infantry. It had a crew of seven. The M7 Priest was in production from early 1942 and was in high by British troops. They badly needed a replacement for their mobile artillery Bishop in North Africa. 5,000 were ordered by the British but the USA couldn't deliver those numbers. Only 5,500 were produced in total throughout the war.

M36 Slugger

This was the new king of the battlefield that displaced the German 88mm gun in its tank killer role. The chassis was taken from a M10, but it needed a completely , newly designed turret that was able to hold the heavy gun. Thanks to its gun and special ammunition, it could destroy the Tiger and Panther quite easily.

Self Propelled Anti-Aircraft (AA) Gun

M4A1 Sherman Skink

Officially designated 20mm Quad AA M4, it was designed to counter the threat of the Luftwaffe in the European theater. It was based on the chassis of the Grizzly I, the Canadian-built version of the American M4A1 Sherman. Its 20mm Polsten guns were simplified versions of the Oerlikon cannon, and fired High Explosive Incendiary Tracer (HEIT) rounds. The turret could traverse 360 degrees in either direction at speeds of up to 60 degrees per second.

Reconnaissance Vehicle

Bren Wasp

A lightly armoured reconnaissance vehicle of British design armed with .50 machine guns to fend off minor assaults. The concept proved successful enough to make it the predecessor of today's Armoured Personnel Carriers.

Transport

Dodge WC57

The "Softskin" command car of American design; was also used as a mobile radio station to maintain contact between front line units. Thanks to its 4-wheel-drive it could climb up inclines as steep as 60° and was more powerful than the Jeep.

Willys Overland-Jeep

M5 Halftrack

A medium armoured, tractor unit and troop carrier of American design. It could carry up to nine soldiers across difficult terrain. Above the front passenger seat, a M2 .50cal MG was mounted giving it enough firepower to be a serious threat for most lightly armoured enemies.

Tactical Bomber

Republic P-47 Thunderbolt

High performance fighter-bomber of American design. Logged almost 2 million flight hours during the war, during which it was responsible for the destruction of over 7,000 enemy aircraft in the air and on the ground in the European Theater alone.

Level Bomber

Avro Lancaster

Four engine heavy bomber of British design, successor of the pre-war Avro Manchester. It gave the UK the offensive striking power needed to penetrate German air defenses during World War II.

Reconnaissance Planes

De Haviland Mosquito

Revolutionary multi-talent aircraft of British design. To produce it very quickly and cheaply, it was constructed mainly of plywood. Although the Mosquito wasn't faster than the Spitfire, it did manage to reach a top speed of 630km/h and was therefore one of the fastest planes of its time. Its weight, speed and extreme range made it an obvious choice for reconnaissance sorties over enemy territory.

Transporter

Douglas C 47 Skymaster

A twin-engine medium cargo plane of American design: the military version of the DC 3 civil airliner. Its empty weight was 7.7 tons and it could carry a weight of four tons. Some examples of them have remained in service until today.

SPECIAL AND FICTIONAL UNITS

Some of the units below actually existed, but were not produced in numbers high enough to make any real impact on history.

Renault 35T

Light tank of French prewar design; supposed to be the replacement for the FT-17. By 1940 it was numerically the most important tank of the French Army. Technically advanced, fast and reliable, the R.35 was handicapped by two main factors: its gun, a short-barreled 37mm dating from 1918, and its two-man crew. After the French defeat of 1940, the remaining units were stripped of their weaponry by the Germans who mainly used them as artillery tractors.

M22 Locust

Light tank of American design. Its low weight allowed it to be airdropped behind enemy lines. Generally disliked by US armoured troops, the British are known to have made good use of them during the crossing of the Rhine River.

Churchill Mk VII Crocodile

A modified version of the British made Churchill medium infantry tank with an attached trailer carrying 400 gallons of petrol in an armoured chariot. The main gun was replaced by a flamethrower muzzle. Its effective range was 80 to 120 meters, in 80 1-second bursts.

Goliath

A remote control tankette filled with high explosives. It was very effective at clearing away minefields and roadblocks and could also be used against bunkers and lightly armoured targets.

Panzerkampfwagen E-120 "Maus"

A next generation German, super heavy battle tank. On May 1st 1943, a wooden model was presented to German High Command, but the prototype was never delivered. In October of 1943, the original order for 150 vehicles was also canceled. One example is displayed at the Russian the Tank Museum in Kubiyanka. It may well be a non-functional trophy built from plans after the war.

Unmanned ballistic missile of German design. It was guided by a gyroscopic system, and propelled by alcohol and liquid oxygen. It was first launched operationally on September 8, 1944, and the offensive lasted until March of 1945. Over 3000 were deployed. The London area was hit by over 500 rockets and several hundreds more dropped on the home counties.