Borgward IV

Borgward IV
Borgward IV at the Deutsches Panzermuseum
Type	Demolition vehicle
Place of origin	Nazi Germany
Specifications
Mass	3.45 tonnes
Length	3.35 m
Width	1.80 m
Height	1.25 m
Crew	1
Armour	up to 20 mm
Main armament	450 kilograms (990 lb) explosive charge
Secondary armament	keine
Engine	Borgward water-cooled 4-cylinder gasoline engine 49 PS
Power/weight	14.2 PS/tonne
Suspension	torsion bar
Operational range	120 km
Maximum speed	40 km/h (road)

The Borgward IV, officially designated Schwerer Ladungsträger Borgward B IV (heavy explosive carrier Borgward B IV), was a German remote-controlled demolition vehicle used in World War II.

History

During World War II, the Wehrmacht used three remotely operated demolition tanks: the light Goliath (Sd.Kfz. 302/303a/303b), the medium Springer (Sd.Kfz. 304) and the heavy Borgward IV (Sd.Kfz. 301). The Borgward IV was the largest of the vehicles and was the only one capable of releasing its explosives before detonating; the two smaller vehic5les were destroyed when their explosive charges detonated.

Borgward originally developed the vehicle as an ammunition carrier, but was found unsuitable. It was also tested as a remote minesweeper, but was too vulnerable to mines and too expensive. In 1941, the Waffenamt ?ordered its development as a remote-controlled demolition vehicle, and the first vehicles were delivered in 1942. The Borgward IV was much heavier than the Goliath, and carried a much larger payload. Both the Borgward IV and the Goliath were operated by radio, but due to the Borgward IV's much longer range a driver in the vehicle would bring it independently to its destination before dismounting and conducting it to its target by radio. When it reached the target, the vehicle would drop the charge and leave the danger area. This put Borgward IV operators in great danger. While the Borgward IV was armored, its armor was inadequate by 1942-43, and its larger size than the Goliath made it much easier to spot. Three versions of the Borgward were produced, Ausführung (abbreviated to Ausf.) A, B and C. About 616 of the Ausf. A model were produced from May 1942 to June 1943, 260 Ausf. B from June to November of 1943 and 305 Ausf. C until September 1944. In contrast, 7564 of the smaller Goliaths were produced. Die Ausführungen unterschieden sich im wesentlich in der Reichweite der Sende-/Empfangsanlage und Änderungen an der Panzerung. Das Gegenstück Goliath wurde in mehr als 6200 Stück aller Varianten gefertigt.

Fund 2010

Am 31. März 2010 wurde bei Abbruch- und Erdarbeiten am Wiener Südbahnhof neben anderen Kriegsrelikten aus der Schlacht um Wien auch ein gut erhaltener Borgward IV gefunden. Er wurde von Experten des Heeresgeschichtlichen Museums Wien geborgen, dortselbst restauriert und wird nunmehr in der Dauerausstellung des Museums gezeigt.

Survivors

Surviving Borgward IVs are displayed in the Heeresgeschichtliches Museum in Vienna and the Deutsches Panzermuseum in Munster.

Siehe auch

Detaillierter US-Bericht

• Leichter Ladungsträger Goliath (Sd.Kfz. 302/303a/303b)
• Mittlerer Ladungsträger Springer, Sd.Kfz. 304
• SWORDS, ein aktuelles Gerät der US-Streitkräfte

Literatur

• Thomas Ilming: Die „Wunderwaffe“ unter dem Südbahnhof: Borgward B IV c, in: Viribus Unitis, Jahresbericht 2010 des Heeresgeschichtlichen Museums. Wien 2011, S. 150-156, ISBN 978-3-902551-19-1
• Alexander Lüdeke, Waffentechnik im Zweiten Weltkrieg. Infanteriewaffen, ungepanzerte Fahrzeuge, gepanzerte Fahrzeuge, Artillerie, Spezialwaffen, Flugzeuge, Schiffe. Parragon Books, Bath 2007, ISBN 978-1-4054-8584-5.
• Markus Jaugitz: Die deutsche Fernlenktruppe. Teil 1: 1940–1943. Podzun-Pallas, Wölfersheim-Berstadt 1994, ISBN 3-7909-0502-X, (Waffen-Arsenal Special 10).
• Markus Jaugitz: Die deutsche Fernlenktruppe. Teil 2: 1943–1945. Podzun-Pallas, Wölfersheim-Berstadt 1995, ISBN 3-7909-0529-1, (Waffen-Arsenal Special 12).