Let's Take A Look: Mittlerer Kampfwagen fuer Ausland (MKA)

Short Summary: In 1936, Germany was having difficulty selling their heavier tanks to foreign countries. The idea came around to develop lighter versions of these vehicles which would then be exported. One of the projects to come out of this was the Mittlerer Kampfwagen fuer Ausland (Medium Tank for Other Countries), or simply MKA. The tank was inspired by early Panzer III models, but it would also serve as the groundwork for the earliest Panzer IVs. It featured a 4,5 cm cannon and was to weigh twelve tons. But by 1939, only one MKA prototype had been completed and the project was soon cancelled.

The MKA can perhaps be best described as a curious crossover between an early Panzer III and an early Panzer IV. Designed to be exported overseas, only one prototype would be built before the project was cancelled. Nonetheless, I believe this tank has reason to be in World Of Tanks. I see it as a necessary addition to the game, not only because of its historical merits, but it would have a crucial role in cleaning up the rather messy German tech tree.

Keep reading for a more in-depth look at the MKA, as well as some proposed stats for its introduction and where it could be found among the German tech tree.


The origins of the MKA can be traced all the way back to 1935. Krupp and Daimler-Benz were competing for the production contract of what would become the Panzer III, and Daimler-Benz's design (the Panzer III Ausf. A) proved to be more favorable. But Krupp still felt theirs was a worthy design, and it would lay the groundwork for what would become the MKA.

The MKA is one of three similar projects, the other two being the LKA (Leichter Kampfwagen fuer Ausland) and SKA (Schwere Kampfwagen fuer Ausland), or light and heavy export tanks, respectively. The LKA was based off of the Panzer I, while the SKA would be an up-gunned version of the MKA. The export program itself came about as a desire to sell tanks overseas, inspired by what France was doing with their Renault R35. Germany wanted a tank that would outperform the Renault R35 (and the tanks other countries were exporting), but they also didn't want to sell their latest tank technology [2]. As such, the LKA, MKA, and SKA were to be simplified versions of preexisting vehicles and designs.

The whole export-tank program is a little confusing. In March of 1937, these were the design requirements for the export-tank program [1; pg 69]:

In another meeting the next month, the design requirements were altered [1; pg 70]:

Side Note: "Normal" armor refers to the armor values of the LKA. "Thicker" vaguely refers to thicker-than-"normal" armor.

This alteration essentially merged the 4,5 cm KA (m.KA) and the 4,5 cm KAv into one vehicle, the 4,5 cm KAv (MKA).

After this revision, the MKA was to be given the 200 hp Maybach HL 76 engine, which at the time was still in development. In June of 1937, the question was brought up at Wa Prüf 6 as to whether or not Krupp's MKA would be released for export at all, or whether it'd be used by the German army. However, this decision would need to wait to see if the HL 76 engine would be completed in time. But by October, the HL 76 was still not available. Wa Prüf 6 advised Krupp to use a 155 hp Maybach D.S.O.8 Motor instead, which worked well in various towing vehicles [1; pg 70].

On October 4th, Krupp developed the 4,5 cm Kanone L/50 specifically for the MKA. It weighed 1,385 kg and could fire a shell at 750 m/s that could penetrate 40 mm of armor at 1000 meters. The drawings were completed by the end of the month. A turret was designed in March 1938 and produced by August 1st [1; pg 70-71]. 

But on October 9th, Wa Prüf 6 had decided to reject the current MKA chassis. They stated its armor was too thin, and that the engine compartment and cooling system were too current, and would need to be simplified so that Germany wouldn't be selling its latest technology. The requested changes were made and the only trial vehicle was assembled sometime in January of 1940 [2]. It sported 25 mm of frontal armor and a temporary Maybach HL 98 engine, rated at 230 hp, which would be replaced by the HL 76 once it was completed [1; pg 72]. Unfortunately, as soon as this prototype was built, the program was cancelled and the single MKA was scraped.

While the LKA would see limited success with small numbers sold to Spain and China before 1939, the SKA was cancelled in 1937 for being too expensive and the MKA only saw one prototype being built. It's likely the export-program died because by 1940, WWII was unfolding and as a result the search for new foreign partners was turning increasingly difficult. Newer Panzer III models also surpassed the MKA in every respect, so there was no reason to introduce the outdated MKA to the German army either [2]. It was likely a culmination of these factors among others that caused the program to end.

Nonetheless, the MKA was surely an important step in German tank production. The 4,5 cm Kanone L/50 might have served as an inspiration for the Kwk 38 and Kwk 39, and its suspension and hull would undoubtedly lay the groundwork for Krupp's development of the Panzer IV. Its turret shows many similarities with the earliest Panzer IIIs and Panzer IVs.

With this information, in addition to what I've previously gone over, I believe we can create a historically accurate and well-balanced regular Tier II medium tank.

The following image shows one of Krupp's trial turrets on an early Panzer III prototype chassis. This turret could make for a decent stock turret for the MKA, as the MKA was based off of lessons learned by Krupp during the development of the Panzer III. The gun mounted is a 3,7 cm Kw.K. 38 L/45. I don't know if this turret is the same turret used on the Panzer III Ausf. A, actually. But if it's not, then the armor values of this turret are unknown, so I borrowed the values from the LKA specifications. These are slightly thinner than the values found on the Panzer III Ausf. A [1; pg 36].

Krupp's prototype Z.W. turret on a Daimler-Benz experimental Z.W. chassis [1; pg 29]

The second turret is of course the turret built for the MKA itself. "Versuchs" translates to "experimental", and "turm" translates to "turret". I've elected to give this second turret a slightly shorter view range on account of the fact it doesn't have a cupola. It's unknown how thick the values of this turret were, aside from the front plate being 25 mm thick [1].

Traverse speeds for both turrets were created by analyzing the values of other Tier II medium tanks across nations, in addition to various Tier II and Tier III German tanks. This is because I lack the actual values. 

The turret weights are likewise estimations. However, this document courtesy of For The Record offers some insight. Here an unspecified Panzer III model has its turret weight approximated to 2000 kg. I believe that a more accurate estimation for the Krupp Z.W.-Turm would be around 1500 kg, on account of its thin armor in comparison to late Panzer III models (which were 30 mm thick). The MKA turret might be closer to 1800. Again, these are guesses as no actual value is known to me.

Click the image for a larger view

There are only two possible guns, historically speaking. The 3,7 cm Kw.K. 36 L/46.5 was used on the Pz.Kpfw III Ausf. A (and this gun was also used on the Leichttraktor). While it would fit the Z.W. turret, I don't know if it would fit the MKA turret. Only the 4,5 cm Kanone L/50 was designed for the MKA. I'm taking some liberties here in order to give the MKA at least two guns. A third alternative would be the 2 cm Kw.K. L/55, also found on the Pz.Kpfw III Ausf. A, but I'm convinced this gun shouldn't be on the Panzer III A to begin with. This would be a very unhistorical consideration.

The actual weight of the 3,7 cm Kw.K. L/46.5 eludes me, but I'm pretty sure it would weigh more than 100 kg like it does in-game. The 3,7 cm Pak L/45 weighs almost 330 kg according to one source, so that's the value I've gone with. I only added 20 extra kg due to the slightly longer barrel length and give a more round number.

The 4,5 cm Kanone L/50 can only be mounted in the MKA Versuchs-Turm. 

The stock gun's DPM is among the worst of all current Tier II medium tanks, but its top gun gives it the second best DPM. 

All three of these engines are mentioned as options for the MKA after the April program revision. The HL 76 was originally going to be used, but as it was still under development Krupp was advised to consider the D.S.O.8 instead. When the prototype was built, it used the HL 98 while still waiting for the HL 76 to be completed.

The horsepower of all these engines is known and represented, but the weights of all the engines are unknown, aside from the HL 98 being 200 kg heavier than the HL 76 [1; pg. 72]. I had to do some guesswork for the weights. The engine-fire chance is a standard 20%.

Radios are unknown, so I've opted to use two commonly used by Tier II German tanks.

Click the image for a larger view

I'm attempting to future-proof this by including alternate hulls. While the suspension was unchanging between MKA versions, the initial requirements notably used armor thicknesses equivalent if not identical to the LKA, so that's what I've done here. After the revisions, the armor was increased to the better known 25-18 mm values we know. The angles of these armor plates are unknown, so I've left them blank. They'd have to be evaluated by looking at the only two known photographs of the MKA. Unfortunately, I don't know of any blueprints existing.

It should be possible to mount all modules without researching the second suspension/hull.

So, how might the MKA fair in World Of Tanks? What we're looking at here is essentially the armor of a Tier II medium tank with the mobility of a typical Tier II light tank, but not necessarily the speed. Its speed is fairly average, and it doesn't exactly have a strong power-to-weight ratio. The armament is very respectable, being more suitable for a Tier III tank. Such a strong gun could be mitigated by poor camouflage, terrain resistance, and other soft-stats.

But, why include this tank at all? Well, if for no other reason, it can serve as a direct route to the Panzer IV A. It would certainly help clean up the mess we have right now. But in the long run, I think it would have a greater role as the starting point for other branches.

In conclusion, I think the MKA is certainly a viable tank to be introduced into the game. It's a bit stronger than its Tier II medium tank peers, but it isn't the strongest in any particular way. It's above-average for sure, however, and would be a frightening tank to encounter.


Until next time,
— ThatTrafficCone [NA]

Sources:

• [1] Jentz, Thomas L. & Doyle, Hillary L. Panzer Tracts No.3-1 Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf.A, B, C, und D, 2006.

• [2] http://www.aviarmor.net/tww2/tanks/germany/mka.htm