Sylvie Willis
During World War II, German tanks were powered by gasoline, diesel, and wood gas. The flammability of the fuel depended on the temperature—the hotter the temperature, the more vapors were produced, which burned when ignited. As the war progressed, gasoline and diesel became scarce in Germany, leading to the use of Stadtgas (city gas) in the form of LPG compressed gas bottles fixed to the outside of the tank chassis. German tanks were also designed with conventional engines that could refuel at civilian gas stations, increasing their agility during offensives.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fuel used by German tanks in WWII | Gasoline/petrol |
| Fuel used by German supply vehicles | Wood gas burners |
| German fuel production in Q1 1944 | 315,000 tons of gasoline, 200,000 tons of diesel, 222,000 tons of fuel oil |
| German fuel consumption before WWII | 44.6 million barrels of oil annually |
| German fuel production before WWII | 12.8 million barrels of domestic oil and synthetic oil |
| Fuel ignition temperature | Gasoline: 530-540 degrees F |
| Diesel: 410-430 degrees F |
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What You'll Learn
German tanks in World War II were gasoline-powered
The choice of gasoline over diesel for German tanks during World War II was influenced by several factors. One reason was the belief that synthetic diesel fuel would be challenging to produce. This belief guided the decision to standardize gasoline engines for military vehicles before the war. However, as the conflict progressed, this perception changed, and by 1942, the German army was informed that synthetic diesel was more accessible than gasoline. Despite this new understanding, the Germans continued to use gasoline engines in their tanks.
The scarcity of fuel in Germany during World War II was a significant issue. Prior to the war, Germany heavily relied on foreign fuel imports, consuming 44.6 million barrels of oil annually while only producing 12.8 million barrels domestically. Although Germany had substantial coal and lignite deposits, which allowed them to increase synthetic fuel production, it was insufficient to meet their needs. The fuel shortage was further exacerbated by Allied bombing campaigns, which depleted their already limited fuel stocks.
The flammability of tanks was often attributed to the type of fuel used, but it was primarily influenced by ammunition and ammo storage. Gasoline, being more volatile, begins to vaporize at approximately 40 degrees Fahrenheit, while diesel fuel requires much higher temperatures of around 144 degrees Fahrenheit. Diesel fuel also has a lower auto-ignition temperature than gasoline, making it less susceptible to accidental ignition.
While the majority of German tanks in World War II were gasoline-powered, there were some exceptions. For instance, the Czechoslovakian-built Panzer 38(t) tank chassis was used as a basis for various vehicles, including wood gas-powered German tank driving school tanks. These tanks utilized wood, charcoal, or anthracite coal as fuel, heated in a combustion unit to produce gas. Additionally, during the war, due to fuel scarcity, Panzer driving schools frequently employed vehicles equipped with Stadtgas (compressed city gas) stored in LPG bottles fixed outside the tank chassis for safety.
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German fuel shortages led to the use of wood gas burners
During World War II, Germany faced a fuel shortage due to several factors, including the country's small natural oil reserves, Allied bombing, and increased fuel consumption as a result of the war. This fuel shortage impacted the German military, leading to the development and use of alternative fuel sources for their vehicles, including tanks.
One alternative fuel source that gained traction was wood gas, also known as Holzgas. German engineers designed and implemented wood gas burners on various military vehicles, including tanks and supply vehicles operating behind the front lines. The wood gas burners utilized a process called gasification, where wood, charcoal, or anthracite coal was heated in an oxygen-deprived environment, producing a combustible gas that could power the vehicles.
The use of wood gas burners offered a solution to the fuel shortage, as wood was a more readily available resource compared to gasoline or diesel fuel. However, it is important to note that these wood gas-powered vehicles were not used in combat on the front lines. Instead, they were primarily employed for training purposes or as support vehicles.
The German military driving schools played a crucial role in adopting and converting vehicles to run on wood gas burners. For example, the Fahrschulpanzer Tiger tanks, based on the feared German Army Tiger tank, were modified to run on cooking gas and wood gas for training purposes. Similarly, Sd.Kfz.251 half-tracks were also converted to utilize wood gas burners.
While the use of wood gas burners provided a temporary solution to the fuel shortage, it was not without its drawbacks. The process of gasification and the combustion of wood produced higher CO₂ emissions compared to fossil fuels, contributing to air pollution and respiratory health issues. Additionally, the technology and infrastructure required to support wood gas burners may not have been widely available, limiting the large-scale implementation of this alternative fuel source.
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Stadtgas bottles were used for training tanks
During World War II, Germany faced a shortage of gasoline and diesel fuel. This scarcity was due to several factors, including Germany's limited natural oil reserves, the destruction of fuel stocks by Allied bombing, and the country's heavy reliance on foreign fuel imports before the war. As a result, the German Army had to devise alternative energy sources for their training tanks.
Stadtgas, also known as "city gas," was one such alternative fuel source adopted by the Germans. Stadtgas refers to the municipal gas commonly used in households for cooking and heating. It is produced by gasifying biomass or other carbon-containing materials within an oxygen-limited closed environment, resulting in the production of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. These gases can then be burned as fuel to produce carbon dioxide, water, and heat.
Stadtgas bottles, typically made of metal, were used to store the compressed Stadtgas. This compression process easily converts the gas into a liquid state, allowing a large volume of gas to be contained in a relatively small space. The Fahrschule Panther, for instance, utilised six Stadtgas bottles, with three mounted on each side of the vehicle. These bottles were attached to a platform and connected to the Panther's fuel system through a network of conduits and nozzles.
Stadtgas-powered tanks were exclusively employed for training purposes due to safety concerns. The German military driving schools also converted Sd.Kfz.251 half-tracks to operate on Stadtgas and wood gas burners, showcasing their adaptability in the face of fuel scarcity. These measures ensured that the training of tank drivers could continue despite the challenging fuel situation faced by the German Army during World War II.
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Diesel engines were not used due to production costs
During World War II, all mass-produced German tanks were equipped with gasoline engines. This decision was influenced by various factors, including fuel supply considerations and production costs.
One factor was the belief that synthetic diesel fuel would be challenging to produce in sufficient quantities. Prior to the war, the German army standardized the use of gasoline engines, as they were informed that synthetic diesel would be difficult to obtain. However, as the war progressed, this belief was proven incorrect, as Germany synthesized large amounts of both gasoline and diesel fuel. By 1944, they had reached peak production, obtaining 315,000 tons of gasoline and 200,000 tons of diesel.
The decision to prioritize gasoline engines may also have been influenced by cost considerations. Adapting existing aero engines, such as the Liberty V-12 and Meteor, was a logical choice as they could deliver high power in a compact package with an excellent power-to-weight ratio. Developing and producing diesel engines for tanks would have incurred additional costs, and with the urgency of war, the German army opted for readily available and adaptable gasoline engines.
Additionally, the German army faced fuel shortages, particularly as the war progressed. They had small natural oil reserves and relied heavily on fuel imports before the war. The Allied bombing program further depleted their fuel stocks. While they had large coal and lignite deposits, which could be used for synthetic fuel production, it was insufficient to meet their needs.
The choice between gasoline and diesel engines was not unique to Germany. Other countries, like the United States and the United Kingdom, also primarily used gasoline engines for their tanks during World War II. The U.S. Army, for example, considered the cost and availability of engines, opting for large-scale production of gasoline-powered tanks.
In summary, the absence of diesel engines in German tanks during World War II was influenced by initial misconceptions about fuel synthesis, cost considerations, fuel shortages, and the urgency of war, which led to the widespread adoption of gasoline engines.
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Gasoline engines were standardised before the war
During World War II, all mass-produced German tanks were equipped with gasoline engines. This decision was made before the war, as gasoline engines were cheaper and easier for the German industry to produce. The German army needed eight types of engines in total, from a 30 hp engine for a Volkswagen to a 1200 hp engine for superheavy tanks. The idea was to develop the lineup using standardized cylinders, which would make development, production, and repairs much easier.
Initially, early medium tanks such as the Krupp and Rheinmetall Grosstraktors used 6-cylinder BMW Va aircraft engines. However, the Germans soon decided to replace them with specialized tank engines. The power of these engines could be calculated by multiplying the engine's torque by its RPM. For example, the BMW Va engine produced 290 hp at 1400 RPM or 320 hp at 1600 RPM. To withstand the torque, the transmission had to be strengthened, which made it heavier.
As the war progressed, gasoline and diesel fuel became increasingly scarce in Germany due to fuel shortages caused by a variety of factors, including Germany's small natural oil reserves and Allied bombing. The German army had to resort to using alternative fuels such as wood gas and compressed Stadtgas for their vehicles, especially in Panzer driving schools.
Despite the fuel shortages, the Germans synthesized large amounts of both gasoline and diesel fuel. At the peak of production in the first quarter of 1944, they obtained 315,000 tons of gasoline, 200,000 tons of diesel, and 222,000 tons of fuel oil. However, the German army standardized on gasoline engines before the war because they were informed that synthetic diesel would be difficult to produce. This decision contributed to the German defeat, as the use of gasoline engines resulted in higher fuel consumption compared to diesel engines.
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