Borgward IV

Borgward IV
Borgward IV at the Deutsches Panzermuseum
Type	Demolition vehicle
Place of origin	Nazi Germany
Specifications
Mass	3.45 tonnes (3.40 long tons; 3.80 short tons)
Length	3.35 m (11 ft)
Width	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Height	1.25 m (4 ft 1 in)
Crew	1
Armour	up to 20 mm (0.79 in)
Main armament	450 kg (990 lb) explosive charge
Engine	Borgward water-cooled 4-cylinder gasoline engine 49 PS
Power/weight	14.2 PS/tonne
Transmission	1 forward, 1 reverse ratio
Suspension	torsion bar
Fuel capacity	108 L (28.5 US gal)
Operational range	120 km (75 mi)
Maximum speed	40 km/h (25 mph) 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.

Design

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 vehicles 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.

Variants

Three versions of the Borgward were produced, Ausführung (abbreviated to Ausf.) A, Ausf. B and Ausf. C, mostly differing in armor and radio.

The Borgward IV Ausf. A, the first model to enter serial production, was equipped with a 49 horsepower 4-cylinder water-cooled gasoline engine. Ausf. A was the most produced model, with approximately 616 produced between May 1942 and June 1943. In June of 1943, production shifted to the similar Borgward IV Ausf. B. The Ausf. B weighed 400 kg (880 lb) more, the radio antenna was moved and better radio equipment was used. From June to November of 1943, 260 of this model were produced. The final Borgward IV to see production, the Ausf. C, saw greater changes. The chassis was lengthened to 4.1 metres (13 ft 5 in) and the weight further increased. The armor on the Ausf. C was thicker than the previous variants, new tracks were used, the driver's seat was moved to the left of the vehicle and a new 78 horsepower six-cylinder engine was used. The Ausf. C was produced from December 1943 to September 1944 when production ended, with 305 examples built. Borgward IV production was relatively small: only 1,181 were produced, as compared to the 7,564 of the much smaller Goliath. Like Germany's other remote-controlled demolition vehicles, the Borgward IV was not considered a success, as it was unreliable and expensive, although unlike the Goliath and Springer it could be used multiple times.

Survivors

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

On 31 March 2010, demolition work and excavation at Wien Südbahnhof uncovered a well-preserved Borgward IV along with other relics from the Vienna Offensive. The Heeresgeschichtliches Museum salvaged and restored it for display there.

See also

• Goliath tracked mine
• Springer (tank)
• SWORDS
• Teletank
• American military report on the Borgward IV

References

• 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 1940–1943. Podzun-Pallas, Wölfersheim-Berstadt 1994, ISBN 3-7909-0502-X, (Waffen-Arsenal Special 10).
• Markus Jaugitz: Die deutsche Fernlenktruppe 1943–1945. Podzun-Pallas, Wölfersheim-Berstadt 1995, ISBN 3-7909-0529-1, (Waffen-Arsenal Special 12).

Category:Borgward Category:Military robots Category:World War II German vehicles