During the Weimar Republic, Germany was restrained from building tanks. After 1933, however, the Versailles restrictions were abandoned and Germany was allowed to build and export tanks. Some very futuristic tank designs were created as a result. Some of these designs were made in the late 1920s or early 1930s. They also provide a glimpse into German armor development.
Bofors worked closely with German companies during the interwar years on many projects. One of these was the creation of a new light-tank. The company was tasked with designing a new tank for the German Army in 1930. Otto Merker was hired by the company to be its chief of tank development. His first task consisted of designing a lightweight tank. This design was patentable in 1937. He also designed fixtures suitable for armored vehicle.
A design was also submitted by the company for an old light tank. This design included a shallow trench to protect against enemy fire. This design was never made. The company was able change the design to include an off-set engine. This enabled two men to operate it. The machine gunner was also protected by a curved shield. The design also included a separate hull machine gun, which could only provide a limited range of fire. The remaining armor would consist of flat armor plates.
Despite its flaws, the design possessed a number of characteristics that are common in other modern one-man tanks. The cupola or hatch of the design enabled for improved visibility and observations. The cupola can be raised and lowered to protect against enemy fire. It also featured an escape hatch.
The design was similar to other one-man tanks, with a man lying down in the center of the tank and operating a forward-firing weapon. Crewman would gaze out of the cupola in search of targets. It was not circular in design. Instead, three vision slits were drilled into the cupola. It made it difficult for crewmen to see outside but did increase the protection.
Also, the front was sloping. The front of the hull was angled, and the upper half was made of angular metal flat panels. The hull measured approximately 10-12 millimeters in thickness. The design had sharply sloping rooflines that would encourage the deflection of enemy fire. The hull was made of pressed steel while the rest was made of flat armor plates.
Low ground clearance was a major problem with the design. It made it difficult for a single person to manage the tank. The armor plating on the tank was also very thin. The vehicle was also hard to see. This design was very unpopular with the Nazi Party. It was banned in 1941. The German Patent DE687038(C) 'Halbgleiskettenfahrzeug' was issued on 20th January 1940.