Dicker Max Tank-hunTer

Designation: 10.5cm K18 auf Panzerselbstfahrlafette IVa

Nickname: Dicker Max

Crew: 5 (cdr, gnr, ldr (2), dvr)

Weight: 55,112lb/25,000kgLength: 24’8”/7.52mHeight: 10’8”/3.25mWidth: 9’4”/2.84mArmament: 1x 10.5cm K18 gun, 1x 7.92mm MG34 machine-gun

Traverse: 8 degrees left and right

Ammunition Stowage: 25x 10.5cm, 600x 7.92mm

Armour Thickness: 20mm to 50mm

Engine: Maybach HL 120TRM 12-cylinder petrol, 725cu in/12 litre, 300hpTransmission: Maybach double differential

Suspension: Leaf springs

Maximum Speed: 25mph/40km/hCross-country Speed: Classified

Road Radius: 130 miles/210km

Dicker Max SpecificaTionS

Dicker Max is first and foremost a gun-carrier and the gun it carried was the long-range Rheinmetall s10cm K18 artillery piece fitted with a muzzle break.

This weapon can penetrate 111mm of armour at a 30 degree slope at 2000 meters—30% more than the famous 8.8cm FlaK18 anti-aircraft gun!

Such a large gun is usually rather slow-firing, but with two loaders and ammunition ready to hand, it gives a good account of itself.

DeSign feaTureS

The powerful 10.5cm gun mounted in the Dicker Max is more than capable of destroying anything but the heaviest super tank.

Range 40”/100cm, ROF 2, Anti-tank 15

DevelopMenTWhile still fighting in Poland in September 1939, the German High Command looked ahead to the coming battle with France and ordered a vehicle for use against the fortifications of the Maginot Line. In response, Krupp set about designing a self-propelled 10.5cm K18 long-range gun based on a Panzer IV tank chassis. The new vehicle’s rotund profile quickly gained it the nickname ‘Dicker Max’ (‘Fat Max’). On 31 March 1941 Krupp-Gruson presented the first of two prototypes designated 10.5cm K18 auf Panzer Selbstfahrlafette IVa (10.5cm K18 on Armoured Self-propelled Mount IVa) to Hitler.

With France defeated, Hitler ordered that this vehicle be developed into a heavy Panzerjager (tank-hunter) capable of destroying the anticipated British and Soviet super-heavy tanks. Production of the 10.5cm K18 auf Panzer Selbstfahrlafette IVa was planned to start in spring 1942, but was cancelled in favour of other vehicles.

coMbaT ServiceThe two prototypes were assigned to 521. Schwere Panzerjagerabteilung for a planned attack on Gibraltar. When this was cancelled, they were assigned to 3. Panzer-division for Operation Barbarossa. One of them was lost in an ammunition explosion and the other returned to the factory in October 1941 after three months in combat.

Having proved itself very effective against Soviet KV-1, KV-2 and T-34 tanks, the surviving Dicker Max returned to 3. Panzer-division alongside the even better-armed Sturer Emil in 1942.

10.5cm K18 auf PzSfl IVa - Dicker Max

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Designation: 12.8cm L/61 auf Panzerselbstfahrlafette V

Nickname: Sturer Emil

Crew: 5 (cdr, gnr, ldr (2), dvr)

Weight: 77,157lb/35,000kg)Length: 31’10”/9.7mHeight: 8’10”/2.7mWidth: 10’4½”/3.16mArmament: 1x 12.8cm K L/61 gun, 1x 7.92mm MG34 machine-gun

Traverse: 7 degrees left and right

Ammunition Stowage: 18x 12.8cm, 600x 7.92mm

Armour Thickness: 15mm to 50mm

Engine: Maybach HL116 6-cylinder petrol, 674cu in/11 litre, 300hpTransmission: Maybach double differential

Suspension: Transverse torsion bar

Maximum Speed: 15.5mph/25km/h

STurer eMil SpecificaTionS

STurer eMil Tank-hunTer

If you thought that Dicker Max was well armed, you haven’t seen Sturer Emil. This monster carried a 12.8cm gun with a 25’6”/7.8m long barrel.

This fired a 58lb/26.4kg shot at 2887fps/880m/s. It could penetrate 120mm of armour sloped at 30 degrees at 2000m and over 200mm at point-blank range.

Despite the weight of the shell, the spacious fighting compartment allowed the two loaders to maintain a good rate of fire.

DeSign feaTureS

Most tanks simply disintegrate under the impact of the 12.8cm L/61 gun. Even the heaviest super tank cannot withstand it.

Range 48”/120cm, ROF 2, Anti-tank 18

DevelopMenTWhen the VK3001(H) heavy tank project was dropped in favour of the VK4501 that would eventually become the Tiger tank, two of the prototype chassis were used to produce the most powerfully armed self-propelled gun of the war.

The 12.8 cm Selbstfahrlafette L/61 (12.8cm L/61 Self-propelled Mounting) or Panzerselbst-lafette V (Armoured Self-propelled Mounting V) was armed with a Rheinmetall 12.8 cm K L/61 gun (based on the 12.8 cm FlaK 40). The unofficial nickname of this design was ‘Sturer Emil’ (Stubborn Emil), and the two vehicles were named Max and Moritz after the naughty boys in Busch’s famous German children’s tale.

Interestingly Moritz, the first prototype, had a second dummy driver’s compartment on the right of the hull while Max had just the driver’s compartment on the left side.

The Sturer Emil was slow and its lack of compatibility with other equipment caused logistical problems. These problems paled in comparison with the outstanding performance of its gun. It could easily engage targets at extreme ranges unmatched by any Soviet tank or anti-tank guns.

coMbaT ServiceMax and Moritz joined the surviving Dicker Max when 521. Panzerjagerabteilung returned to 3. Panzerdivision for the advance into the Caucasus. After the disaster at Stalingrad, Max was destroyed fighting with 2. Panzer-division and Moritz was captured. At the time Moritz had 22 kill rings painted on the barrel.

12.8cm L/61 auf PzSfl V - Sturer Emil

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Experimental TANK-hunter Platoon

Leutnant

Unteroffizier

Dicker MaxTank-hunter Section Tank-hunter Section

HQ Section

Command Sturer Emil

Sturer Emil

Unteroffizier

LEUTNANT

Heavier TANK-hunter Platoon

Leutnant

Unteroffizier

Dicker MaxTank-hunter Section Tank-hunter Section

HQ Section

Command Dicker Max

Dicker Max

Unteroffizier

LEUTNANT

Heaviest TANK-hunter Platoon

Leutnant

Unteroffizier

Tank-hunter Section Tank-hunter Section

HQ Section

Command Sturer Emil

Sturer Emil Sturer Emil

Unteroffizier

LEUTNANT

experiMenTal Tank-hunTer plaToon

PLATOON

2 Sturer Emil and 1 Dicker Max .635 points

2 Sturer Emil ................460 points

1 Sturer Emil and 1 Dicker Max .405 points

1 Sturer Emil ................230 points

1 Dicker Max .................175 points

replacing STanDarD equipMenT wiTh Dicker Max anD STurer eMilGermany fielded a variety of heavy tank-hunters, ranging from the experimental Dicker Max and Sturer Emil to the Ferdinand based on the Tiger (P) chassis. These were used interchangeably as the situation demanded.

Max anD eMilDespite their size difference and different manufacturers, Dicker Max and Sturer Emil have very similar appearance. It is very difficult for the enemy to tell them apart at a distance.

Any German company may replace its Tank-hunter Platoon with an Experimental Tank-hunter Platoon, Heavier Tank-hunter Platoon, or Heaviest Tank-hunter Platoon.

When shooting at an Experimental Tank-hunter Platoon:

- Treat Dicker Max and Sturer Emil tank-hunters as if they have the same armour ratings for the Hit Weakest Armour First rule (page 95 of the rulebook). This allows the German player to allocate hits to the Sturer Emil tank-hunters before the Dicker Max tank-hunters if they wish to do so.

- Treat Dicker Max and Sturer Emil tank-hunters as having different chassis, making them distinguishable using the Gun Tanks rule (page 96 of the rulebook). The shooting player can attempt to choose which type of tank they hit using this rule.

The heavy tank-hunters were assigned to an experienced anti-tank battalion.

Experimental Tank-hunter Platoons are rated as: Confident Veteran

heavier Tank-hunTer plaToon

PLATOON

3 Dicker Max .......... 525 points

2 Dicker Max .......... 350 points

1 Dicker Max .......... 175 points

heavieST Tank-hunTer plaToon

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Dicker Max is best used as a long-range tank-hunter firing from concealed positions behind your own troops. This will keep the enemy at a safe range where it cannot penetrate the relatively thin armour of the

Use the extraordinary long-range firepower of the Sturer Emil to occupy a dominating position and steadily pick off every enemy tank that appears. The armour on a Sturer Emil is equivalent to a medium tank, so there is no need to retreat if the enemy

Armour

Name Mobility Front Side Top Equipment and Notes

Dicker Max Standard Tank 4 1 0 AA MG.

Weapon Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower

s 10cm K18 gun 40”/100cm 2 15 2+ Hull mounted.

Armour

Name Mobility Front Side Top Equipment and Notes

Sturer Emil Slow Tank 5 2 0 AA MG, Unreliable.

Weapon Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower

12.8cm K L/61 gun 48”/120cm 2 18 2+ Hull mounted, Breakthrough gun.

With two loaders the Dicker Max and Sturer Emil get an extraordinary rate of fire out of their

guns, despite their enormous size and power.

Only the best crews were selected to man these the heaviest tank hunters.

Heaviest Tank-hunter Platoons are rated as: Confident Veteran

The new tank-hunter units were formed in 1943 from cadres of established tank-hunter battalions.

Heavier Tank-hunter Platoons are rated as: Confident Veteran

Dicker Max, while allowing the tank-hunter’s powerful long-range gun to pick them off.

start to get near, simply shoot them down as they close.

PLATOON

3 Sturer Emil ......... 690 points

2 Sturer Emil ......... 460 points

1 Sturer Emil ......... 230 points