Unveiling the Fascinating Story of Germany’s WW1 A7V Sturmpanzerwagen

The A7V, a rare and unique tank from Germany’s World War 1 arsenal, had a peculiar appearance with its tall, boxy structure placed on top of track components from a Holt Manufacturing Company tractor. These tracks, which had fifteen wheels on each side, were the first successful tracked tractor by Caterpillar.

Equipped with a main Maxim-Nordenfelt 57 mm gun and six Maxim MG08 machine guns, the A7V posed an interesting characteristic. The Germans did not equip these tanks with new guns; instead, they salvaged them from abandoned enemy tanks found on the battlefield. Each gun required two soldiers in order to operate effectively.

Weighing a hefty 36 tons, the A7V accommodated a crew of 18 and carried an extensive amount of ammunition, including 30,000 rounds for the machine guns and 500 projectiles for the 57mm guns. Inside the tank, there was very limited space, making maneuvering difficult due to the presence of armor plating, crewmembers, and ammunition. Moreover, the environment inside was hot and noisy.

The Sturmpanzerwagen, powered by two Daimler-Benz 4-cylinder engines producing a mere 200 hp, had a top speed of only nine mph on flat surfaces. Its speed dropped drastically to four mph when navigating uneven terrain, making it a slow and cumbersome vehicle.

Although the German Army initially ordered 100 A7V tanks, only 20 were actually produced due to the slow and expensive manufacturing process. Unfortunately, those that did make it to the battlefield faced numerous issues. The narrow track base and top-heavy design made the A7V unstable on rough terrain. Additionally, the powertrain was unreliable and frequently broke down. As if these problems weren’t enough, the tank’s large sides made it an easy target for enemy fire.