Panzerkampfwagen XI
 | This article is incomplete because it is pending further input from participants, or it is a work-in-progress by one author. Please comment on this article's talk page to share your input, comments and questions. Note: To contribute to this article, you may need to seek help from the author(s) of this page. |
| Panzer XI | |
|---|---|
 A Panzer XI getting serviced during a demonstration | |
| Type | Main Battle Tank |
| Place of origin |  Ostlichtor |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Ostlichtor |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Kessel-Hassen |
| Designed | 1969-1976 |
| Manufacturer | Kessel-Hassen |
| Produced | 1979-Present |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 55.5 tonnes (61.2 short tons; 54.6 long tons) |
| Length | 9.67 metres (31 ft 9 in) gun forward 7.72 metres (25 ft 4 in) hull length |
| Width | 3.7 metres (12 ft 2 in) |
| Height | 3.0 metres (9 ft 10 in) |
| Crew | 4 (commander, gunner, loader, driver) |
| Armor | Composite |
Main armament | 1x ((Manufacturer)) 128mm L/40 cannon (38 rounds) |
Secondary armament | 2x Biltz & Keckler MG 60 |
| Engine | 27.4L V12 liquid cooled turbo-diesel 1500 PS @ 2600 rpm |
| Power/weight | 27 PS/t |
| Transmission | Automatic (4 forward gears, 2 reverse) |
| Suspension | Torsion bar |
| Ground clearance | 500 millimetres (1 ft 8 in) |
| Fuel capacity | 1,200 L (320 US gal) |
Operational range | 550 km (340 mi) |
| Speed | 72 km/h (45 mph) |
The PanzerKampfwagen XI (PzKpfw XI) is a main battle tank designed and produced by Kessel-Hassen for the Bodentruppen. It succeeded the PanzerKampfwagen IX.
Development
In the mid 1960s, the Bodentruppen expressed interest in acquiring an improved tank after the initial public demonstrations of the Trinovantan TAG-22. The Bodentruppen were concerned that the obviously larger, more well armed Trinovantan tank would significantly outperform the recently developed PzKpfw IX that was currently in production. In response to this, a design requirement was issued to various Ostlander design firms to create a vehicle that would outperform the believed characteristics of this new potential threat. This new vehicle would have to be resistant to the 105mm rifled cannon across the frontal arc, mount a more powerful weapon than the PzKpfw IX that it would replace, and have at least equivalent road and cross country mobility than the PzKpfw IX. In addition to these requirements, the vehicle's combat-ready weight was not to exceed 60 tonnes.
Siegel AG submitted a significantly modified variant of its PzKpfw IX. An entirely new turret, equipped with an autoloader and a 110mm smoothbore cannon, was developed along with an extensive applique armor package to increase the protection of the hull. These modifications increased the weight of the vehicle from 42 tonnes to 50 tonnes. In order to maintain the vehicle's mobility, a new engine producing 1100 PS was developed for the vehicle.